Greene keen to make it three

It's been said that Canadian sport has been defined by three key moments; Paul Henderson's goal against the Russians in 1972; Ben Johnson beating Carl Lewis in the 1988 Olympics; and the news that Johnson had to give that gold medal back.

On that basis, this is a nation well-tuned to highs and lows of 100 metre sprinting as it prepares for the latest edition of the race for the fastest man on earth to unfold in Edmonton this weekend.

There is no better even to set these World Championships alight, and ash as beenthe case for the past four years, Maurice Greene is the man in the fastest lane.

If the Canadians haven't been paying full attention to these championships so far, Greene has the big-star charisma to change that.

In Athens `97 and Seville `99, the Kansas City Cannonball left his rivals for dead, and his dominance on the event has only grown since. Should Greene win a third straight title here then only the great Lewis o winner of the first three championships would rival him.

With Michael Johnson now on a retirement tour and Cathy Freeman sitting our the season, Greene, unsurprisingly, has been given top billing in Edmonton this week. With the Olympic title and world record also to his name, there has never been a stronger favourite for the title.

Typically, Greene has been talking up his chances: "I am not worried by anyone and I do not become concerned by what other people do. I never have and I will not start now."

The man that may yet worry him come tomorrow's final is Tim Montgomery, who won the American title in Greene's absence and later clocked a season-leading 9.84 seconds in Oslo, albeit wind-aided by the legal limit. At 25 and now working with Marion Jones's coach, Montgomery has the potential to become the star of these championships.

Ato Boldon of Trinidad, training partner and close comrade of Greener, will always push for a medal and his speedy 9.88 in Oslo indicates a possible career high in the unlikely event of a breakdown in Greene's injury and a crack in Montgomery's composure.

The rest of the best are destined to fight for the minor medals, including Britain's big hope Dwain Chambers. All Greene needs is a standard start and his standard finish should see him home. "I know there are guys who go out fast hoping to beat me, but if I'm right, I will be hard to get past."

The locals, of course, will be gunning for one of their Canadian men to make the final. Only problem is, both Donovan Bailey and Bruny Surin are ailing men.

At 33 and suffering from bone spur injuries in both heels, Bailey is looking the most fragile. After clocking a meagre 10.20 back in May, he has restricted his preparations to the training track and bar a miracle, Edmonton is unlikely to shine any last light on the career of the former Olympic champion.

As silver medallist from Seville, where he pushed Greene right to the line, Surin is viewed as a more realistic hope, even if his form has been on ice in recent weeks. The fact is, few people truly expect to see a Canadian in the final.

It's been a decade now since a world championship final has produced a world record (Lewis 9.86 in Tokyo being the last), but if Greene is pushed from the start then his current mark of 9.79 seconds could be seriously threatened.

Win or lose, it is almost certain Greene won't return to the track later in the week to defend his 200 metre title (apparently the knee injury hurt more running on the bend). So that ensures the second half of the championship's sprintingwill belong to that other sprinting phenomenon, Marion Jones.

Unlike Sydney last year, Jones is content to target just three gold medals, starting with the defence of her 100 metre title on Monday. Having increased her unbeaten streak to 53 straight races this past summer, she too looks a formality to make it three in succession.

Part two for Jones, the 200 metres, is sure to evoke memories of Seville and the back injury that forced her to collapse in the semi-final. That day hurt Jones' flawless image more than most and bar another physical intrusion, she will make amends.

But the opening days of these championships are not all about sprinting. Mark Carroll faces an early rise on Monday morning to seek out his place in the 5,000 metres final while later today, Robert Heffernan puts his considerable talent in the 20km walk to the test against the best in the world. If his recent forma is anything to go by, he may just make a surprise impression.