American Tim Harden today won the world men's indoor 60 metres title in the absence of his compatriot andworld record holder Maurice Greene.
Harden, who defeated Olympic and world 100 champion Greene in the U.S. indoor championships two years ago, clocked a season's personal bestof 6.44 seconds.
His team mate Tim Montgomery, a 4x100 metres relay gold medallist at last year's Sydney Olympics after running in an early round, was second in6.46.
Briton Mark Lewis-Francis, 18, set a world junior record of 6.51 to take third place.
The race was delayed by four false starts with Nigerian Deji Aliu being led from the track in despair after he was adjudged responsible for two ofthem.
Men's 60m final:
1. Tim Harden (U.S.) 6.44 seconds
2. Tim Montgomery (U.S.) 6.46
3. Mark Lewis-Francis (Britain) 6.51
4. Mayola Freddy (Cuba) 6.55
5. Matthew Shirvington (Australia) 6.55
6. Tim Gobel (Germany) 6.59
7. Yeoryios Theodormdis (Greece) 6.60
Deji Aliu (Nigeria) disqualified
Reuters