Posted: September 23, 2004

Athletics: Greene's double sprint gold at 1999 World Outdoors named 13th Top Moment

INDIANAPOLIS - Maurice Greene becoming the first ever to win 100m and 200m gold medals at the same World Outdoor Championships in 1999 was honored by USA Track & Field on Wednesday as the 13th greatest moment in U.S. track and field history in the last 25 years.

To help mark the 25th anniversary of USA Track & Field, fans joined USATF in selecting the Top 25 Moments in American Track & Field during the past quarter century. Fans voted for what they consider to be the top moments in the sports of track & field, long-distance running, and race walking by voting online at USATF's website, www.usatf.org.

Greene entered the 1999 World Outdoor Championships in Seville, Spain, looking to successfully defend his 1997 World Outdoor 100m title, in addition to adding the global 200m crown to his trophy case.

In the 100m final at Seville's Olimpic Stadium, Greene stumbled slightly out of the blocks allowing Canada's Bruny Surin the opportunity to take the early lead. That twosome was clear of the field at the halfway point and stayed that way until the final 10 meters as Greene surged to the finish just ahead of his Canadian rival to win in 9.80 seconds. Surin was the runner-up in 9.84.

Greene completed his historic sprint double after exploding out of the blocks in the 200m final and carrying the lead into the homestretch before winning convincingly in 19.90 seconds. Brazil's Claudinei da Silva placed second with a personal best of 20.00.

Becoming the first ever to win 100 and 200m gold at the same World Outdoor Championships wasn't enough for Greene, who later ran the anchor leg on Team USA's 4x100m relay squad that easily won the gold medal in 37.59 seconds.

Suggestions for USATF's Top 25 Moments were taken through February 22, 2004. Fans voted for their favorite moments beginning February 28 and ending on June 20. The Top 25 Moments will be announced in reverse order, one per week, leading up to the USATF Annual Meeting in December, where the top three moments will be revealed.

For more information on USATF' Top 25 Moments, visit USATF.org.

USATF Top 25 Moments 
25. Jackie Joyner-Kersee breaks 7,000-point barrier in the heptathlon.
24. Khalid Khannouchi sets men's world marathon record in 2002.
23. Alan Webb sets U.S. boys' high school mile record.
22. Kevin Young breaks Edwin Moses' world record.
21. Lynn Jennings wins third World Cross Country title.
20. Alberto Salazar wins third consecutive New York City Marathon.
19. Flo-Jo sets women's 200m world record.
18. Gail Devers successfully defends Olympic 100m women's title.
17. Evelyn Ashford defeats two world record holders at 1979 World Cup.
16. Michael Carter sets national prep shot put record.
15. Valerie Brisco wins four gold medals at 1984 Olympic Games.
14. Stacy Dragila wins first ever women's Olympic pole vault.
13. Maurice Greene wins double sprint gold at 1999 World Outdoors