Greene's bravery wins gold as British challenge falters

Maurice Greene last night equalled Carl Lewis's achievement of winning three consecutive world 100m titles as he ran clear of a field that included Britain's Dwain Chambers and Christian Malcolm, who were fifth and seventh respectively.

Greene, who was timed at 9.82sec, the third-fastest ever behind his championship record of 9.80 and his world record of 9.79, crossed the line looking like a triple jumper in mid-stride as he reared up in pain. But after a few moments the problem, which appeared to be in the left leg that was strapped at the knee because of recurring tendinitis, cleared, and he was free to resume his habitual broad grin and bowling walk.

Tim Montgomery and Bernard Williams completed an American clean sweep, second and third in 9.85 and 9.94. Chambers, running in lane eight, had to settle for fifth place in 9.99, while Malcolm recorded 10.11.

The tension was unbearable in the Commonwealth Stadium, barely half-full to its 40,000 capacity despite the importance of the race. The race was delayed by three false starts with Kim Collins of St Kitts, Greene's training partner Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Montgomery each beating the gun. When the race finally got underway, Greene was quick out of the blocks but Montgomery reduced the deficit over the final 20 metres to finish just 0.03 of a second behind his team-mate. Williams edged the Olympic silver medallist, Boldon, for third place.

Greene's knee had been the subject of speculation leading into the championships and it seems certain that he will not try to retain his 200m title with the heats beginning tomorrow.

"I knew it was going to be a tough run. I wasn't going to give it up easily. I'm No 1 one more time," Greene said. When asked about his injury, Green said: "My left hamstring went, but I will go and get it sorted out and hopefully I will be ready for the relay."

Chambers, the bronze medallist at the last World Championships in Seville two years ago, never looked like repeating that feat after a slow start. But the 23-year-old Londoner still got within just 0.02 off his personal record ­ a fine performance from the outside lane.

Chambers was one of five men to finish under the 10secs barrier ­ one off the six sub-10s recorded in the 1991 final in Tokyo. Malcolm, who lowered his Welsh record to 10.11, was also never a medal challenger but can now look towards his main event ­ the 200m ­ in which Chambers is also competing.

In British terms, it was a muted evening as the ambitions of Chambers and 18-year-old Mark Lewis Francis, who had both looked so promising in running sub 10sec in the quarter-finals, foundered. For Britain's world junior champion Lewis Francis, yesterday's semi-final proved to be a race too far as he faded to fifth after getting away to a poor start.