World record holder Tim Montgomery edged out Australian Patrick Johnson to win a hotly contested 100 metres in 10.04 at the Japan Grand Prix in Osaka on Saturday.
Running his second race since setting a new world mark of 9.78 last September, Montgomery almost turned his ankle over after 75 metres but hung on, dipping first at the tape to snatch a morale-boosting victory by just 0.01 seconds.
"I went to hit it like I always do but I went over on my left ankle and had to catch myself from falling on him," said the 28-year-old American, who was matched stride for stride by the powerful Johnson.
"That messed up a nine-second race. But it was a big race for me to establish confidence. I knew he was sharp but I'm still trying to find my rhythm."
Johnson set an Australian record of 9.93, the fastest time in the world this year, in Mito, Japan on Monday and put a positive spin on his narrow defeat in Osaka.
"The best in the world beat me by one hundredth. I lost it on the dip. But the 9.93 is still the tip of the iceberg for me," said the 30-year-old, who did not start running competitively until 1996.
WELCOME BOOST
For Montgomery, beaten into second place by Canadian Nicholas Macrozonaris in Mexico City last weekend, victory gave him a welcome boost before the start of the European season and the world championships in Paris this August.
"My goal this year is the world championships. This was my second race and I managed to pull it out, which is nice to know," said Montgomery.
Japanese 200 metres specialist Shingo Suetsugu finished third behind Montgomery and Johnson in 10.16 with American Bernard Williams fourth in 10.17.
Meanwhile, world indoor champion Tyree Washington won the 400 metres in 44.97 with fellow American Calvin Harrison second in 45.32. Australian Clinton Hill took third in 45.39.
Dudley Dorival of Haiti won the 110 metres hurdles in 13.49 ahead of Jamaican Maurice Wignall (13.50) and American Duane Ross (13.51) at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka, venue for the 2007 World championships.
American Mark Crear, who won at the season-opening grand prix in Brazil last weekend, clocked 13.58 to finish fourth after getting off to a poor start from lane four.
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