LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Maurice Greene boldly re-introduced himself to the world of track and field Sunday at the Home Depot Invitational, winning the Verizon men’s 100 meters in a blazing early-season time of 9.94 seconds. Regina Jacobs won a duel of two all-time greats in the Home Depot women’s 1,500 meters, while Kelli White continued her impressive year in the women’s 100 meters.

The performances came at the third stop of USA Track & Field’s Golden Spike Tour, and in front of a standing-room-only crowd of 10,094 at the Home Depot Center. Saturday’s meet was the first event held at the $150 million facility, with sunny skies and warm temperatures greeting athletes and fans.

Greene’s time provides a startling counterpoint to critics who speculated that the three-time defending world champion, Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder might not be able to again find his form after more than a year of injury and training difficulties.

“Everybody was saying I’m done, I’m through, I’m finished, I’m washed up, I’m no good,” Greene said. “But who cares. No matter what the headlines say, you have to go to the line and be ready to run. This is the start of my year.”

Running the second-fastest time in the world this season, Greene vaulted to the top of the U.S. list and is the only American so far to dip under 10 seconds in 2003. False starts by other runners and a modest move out of the blocks couldn’t keep Greene from crushing the field. J.J. Johnson placed second in 10.05 seconds, with Shawn Crawford third in 10.10.

World indoor record holder Regina Jacobs also posted the #2 time in the world this year in her event, the women’s 1,500. In a highly anticipated duel with Suzy Favor Hamilton, the top-ranked American last year, the pair circled the track together before Jacobs kicked past Favor Hamilton around the final bend to reach the finish in 4:03.03. Favor Hamilton was a step back in 4:04.36, with Sarah Schwald third in 4:08.16.

Kelli White continued to impress in the women’s 100, where she blasted from the blocks and followed through with a blazing time of 10.79 seconds. A tailwind of 2.3 meters per second made the time officially wind-aided, but her speed and fitness proved why she is the fastest woman in the world so far in 2003. Torri Edwards dipped under 11 seconds at 10.96 for second, and LaTasha Jenkins was third in 11.04.

Some of the day’s biggest cheers came for Ana Guevara of Mexico in the LG women’s 400, which she won in 49.62 to crush the field and thrill the large contingent of ecstatic Mexican fans. Tonique Williams of the Bahamas was second in 51.19, with American Demetria Washington third in 52.13.

Three-time world champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson made a statement on his fitness with an impressive win in the men’s 110m hurdles. Suffering from a calf injury since May 3, Johnson ran a wind-aided 13.20 to easily defeat second-place Ron Bramlett (13.35) and two-time Olympic medalist Mark Crear (13.37). Jason Lunn continued his breakthrough season in the men’s 1,500 meters, outkicking last year’s top-ranked American, world indoor 800m champion David Krummenacker, and Brazilian Hudson de Souza in a sprint down the final 100 meters. The two-time defending U.S. indoor champion, Lunn finished in 3:37.59 to Krummenacker’s 3:37.83 and de Souza’s 3:38.77.

Miesha McKelvy picked up her second Golden Spike Tour win of the outdoor season with her wind-aided time of 12.58 seconds in what was a far from perfect technical race. Joanna Hayes was second in 12.65, with Natasha Neal third in 12.93.

In other events, Kevin Toth posted another win in the ADT men’s shot put with a best of 21.69/71-2; Stacy Dragila battled a crosswind to clear 4.50m/14-9 in the Verizon women’s pole vault; Aretha Hill beat a very strong field in the women’s discus with a throw of 64.71m/212-4; Calvin Harrison came from behind to win the men’s 400m in 45.02; and Hussein Al-Sabee of Saudi Arabia won the men’s long jump with a jump of 8.23m/27-0.

For complete results from the Home Depot Invitational, visit www.usatf.org

ATHLETE QUOTES – Event winners

Regina Jacobs, Home Depot women’s 1,500m: “I basically just got out of base training right before Prefontaine [May 27], so I’m very pleased. The race was exactly what I was hoping for. I thought it might be a little bit faster, but it was a very good race. This is a great meet especially for the first year.”

Miesha McKelvy, women’s 100m hurdles: “Because I didn’t run indoors, and I knew it was a long summer, I focused on my speed more than my technique early this year. The more races I get, the more my technique will come back. I’m glad I got some speed under me.”

Allen Johnson, men’s 100m hurdles: “I was a little nervous coming into the race, because I hadn’t run since Mexico City [May 3]. My start wasn’t great, but I was very happy with the way I was able to move toward the end of my race. I’m where I want to be. I feel like at the national championships, I can run 13.1, which sets me up well for the World Championships in Paris. I plan to be the first man to win four world titles in the hurdles.”

Jason Lunn, men’s 1,500m: “It shaped up like I expected. I wanted to go right away into the top three or four. I was in perfect position coming off the curve. It was a 100-meter sprint between me, David and Hudson De Souza – I probably haven’t run that fast all season. I just feel so good. It’s hard not to have confidence when every workout you have is great.”

Kevin Toth, ADT men’s shot put: “Right now, I’m training hard and training through meets to get ready for nationals. I knew I had to be ready today. With my training right now, anything over 70 feet, I feel comfortable with. I know the big throws are coming back. The big one is coming.”

Calvin Harrison, men’s 400m: “I tried to get out and stay comfortable out there. I wanted to save something for coming home. My races will be getting better.”

Ana Guevara, LG women’s 400m: “I was very happy with the race. It was my second 400 this year, and I was very happy to be under 50 seconds. My goal is 48 at the World Championships or maybe before Worlds. I have a month and a half more training. My dream is at the World Championships to take the gold.”

Kelli White, women’s 100m: “I knew when I came out to the track and trained yesterday, we were going to run fast. The Mondo makes it a lot easier to run. The whole time I was coming down the track, I was thinking how easy this feels. [On her fast time] I’m just doing my job. This is what I’m supposed to do. This is what I train for. I’m glad it wasn’t [wind legal]. That’s a lot of pressure. … I have two weeks until nationals, to get ready to run a 200.”

Stacy Dragila, Visa women’s pole vault: “We didn’t get the greatest wind today – it was hard to get in a good rhythm. I had pretty good warm-ups, so I thought it was going to go well. My run went very well. It’s just a matter of timing.”

Maurice Greene, Verizon men’s 100m: “Everybody was saying I’m done, I’m through, I’m finished, I’m washed up, I’m no good. But who cares. No matter what the headlines say, you have to go to the line and be ready to run. This is the start of my year. In Portland, I wasn’t able to go to the next gear. I felt a lot better today. I think I ran a very good race today. I put a lot of pressure on myself to come out here and run fast. In this sport, a lot of pressure can come on you. You have to remember one thing – you have to have fun and enjoy yourself. At Portland, my best friend, Larry Wade, told me I didn’t look like the same person. I wasn’t having fun. So I came out here to have fun. I hope the fans enjoyed the show.”

Aretha Hill, women’s discus: ‘I was very excited with my performance today. It was probably one of the better series’ I’ve ever had. My training is going well, there are some great things to come. It was great to be able to support my employer – thanks Home Depot.”

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