Saturday, August 28, 1999

Surin high on Greene

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) -- Canada's Bruny Surin, second to double
world champion Maurice Greene in the 100-meter final, rates his
American rival above any sprinter in history. 
                    
"In the 100, I think he's even stronger than Carl Lewis," said Surin,
who's idolized the eight-time world champion his entire life. "When
Maurice runs poorly, he runs 9.90." 
                    
Greene won the 100 title in 9.80 in the World Championships before
also taking the 200, a feat not accomplished in a major international
championship since Lewis in the 1984 Olympics. 
                    
"Maurice has a consistency no other sprinter has ever had before
him," Surin said. "That's why he beat me in the final." 
                    
But if Surin has a strong, open respect for Greene, those feelings do
not extend to the American's training partner Ato Boldon. 
                    
"He's someone who is so egocentric, who believes he's above
everyone," Surin told the French sports daily L'Equipe. "He has a
stupid attitude. There's no other word for it. 
                    
"I think he received a blow to his morale when he realized my name
now figures ahead of his in the 100-meter annals." 
                    
Surin said his name could have ranked above Greene's but for a
mistake in the 100 final. 
                    
"I made a mistake that surely cost me the victory," said Surin, who ran
9.84 in the 100 final. "I tightened up. Maurice finished in 9.80. If I had
beaten him, I would have finished in 9.78."