MONACO With the weight of Olympic expectation growing in her native Australia, Cathy Freeman strode to the fastest 400 meters time of the year at the Monaco Golden League meeting.
The world champion, Australia's only realistic hope of a track gold at the Sydney Olympics starting next month, clocked 49.48 seconds after pushing hard for the first half and maintaining her form over the second 200 meters.
The performance was clearly significant for the Olympic favorite after she pulled out of the London Grand Prix on August 5 with a leg strain.
"I was very nervous tonight because of the injury," she said.
"It was a good time and a good race." Asked the inevitable question about the pressure on her to win in Sydney, Freeman replied: "There's always pressure but I'm patient.
I can wait for the next few weeks for the Olympics to arrive." Maurice Greene repeated his victory in Zurich last Friday in his second race since pulling up lame in the U.S. trials 200 meters final.
The world 100 champion and record-holder clocked 10.01 seconds, holding his right index finger high after crossing the line to signify he was still the number one.
He limped heavily through his victory lap, appearing to favor his left leg, but said afterward nothing was wrong.
"It was nothing," Greene said.
"I have been training very hard and expected to run faster." (Reuter)