MAY 15

Osaka, Japan - The world rated Grenadian quarter miler Alleyne Francique is continuing his build-up to August's Olympics games with an important victory at at the Osaka GP - IAAF Grand Prix - meeting in Japan recently.

Francique set a personal best in the 400 metres race by defeating a top class team including American Jerome Young, a favourite for the event in Athens, Greece.

The race billed as the battle of the World Championships medallists, Francique, the current World Indoor Champion, not only prevailed, but annihilated the field which included the gold and silver medallists from the 2003 World outdoor Championships, Jerome Young and Tyree Washington.

Francique, who was only eighth in Paris a year ago, won the 400m
by nearly a second. In the process he recorded the world leading time of 44.47, which is also his personal best, and naturally a national record of tiny Grenada.

World bronze medallist Liu Xiang of China set a new Asian record in the men's 110 metres Hurdles. In the race that was billed as the re-match of the World championships, or perhaps more appropriately the prelude to the upcoming Olympic Games, Liu Xiang won the 110m Hurdles in the world leading mark of 13.06, thus improving his own Asian record of 13.12 from 2002.

Allen Johnson started well, but Liu slowly made up the ground. By the fifth hurdle Liu was side by side with Johnson from which point Liu slowly drew away from Johnson and won by 7/100 of the second.
Liu, 22, the World Junior record holder won the race despite hurting his knee during warm-up shortly before the race. "I'm not in good shape, I feel pain in my leg, but I'm satisfied with the result very much," said a jubilant Liu, the 2002 Asian Games gold medallist.

"It was the first time I took part in an international competition this season. Maybe the other two (Johnson and Wignall) had already run, but I was able to beat them today. I'm really happy about it.
I believe this win will remain in my mind for a long time," Liu, world indoor silver medalist, continued.

To put his mark in perspective, since 2000, only Allen Johnson and Anier Garcia have run faster than Liu. Finishing behind Liu and Allen Johnson were Maurice Wignall and Terrence Trammell, medallists from the World Indoor and Outdoor Championships respectively.

Defending Olympic Champion Maurice Greene won the 100m in 10.04, ahead of two Americans JJ Johnson and Mickey Grimes. After having a troubled year in 2003, with two fastest times of the still early 2004 season so far, Greene once again is re-establishing himself as the premier sprinter.

"As far as my race, it was OK. I planned to run faster than I did, but I have to take the win as I did it," said Greene, three time World 100m champion in 1997, 1999 and 2001.

For the second consecutive year, Koji Murofushi won the Hammer in 82.18m. "I threw further than I expected. It is a good start. I have a good feeling that I can make good progress from here," said Mufofushi after the competiton.

Other highlights included, the double World medallist Torri Edwards blowing away the field in the women's 100m with 11.05, Philip Mosima, a former World junior record holder, winning the 5000m with a slowish 13:24.94, John Kosgei taking the 3000m Steeplechase in relatively modest but still world leading time of 8:23.95, Sandro Glover winning the women's 400m Hurdles in 54.95, thus improving her season's best by 5/100 of the second and double World champion Yipsi Moreno dominating the women's Hammer with 72.92m, the mark only she has exceeded this season.