Zakari off to bright start

Ghana's Aziz Zakari edged out 2004 champion Francis Obikwelu of Portugal to win the men's 100m at the Paris Golden League meeting on Friday.

Zakari clocked 10.04 seconds, Obikwelu 10.05 seconds and Jamaica's Dwight Thomas was third in 10.11.


Former world record-holder Maurice Greene pulled out with an injured hamstring while current record-holder Asafa Powell did not race.


Olympic champion Justin Gatlin of America also missed the event.


Two weeks ago, Zakari ran 9.99 and finished second to Jamaica's Powell when he set a world record of 9.77 in Athens.

In the women's' event, France's Christine Arron won with a time of 11.03. Americans swept the 400 hurdles, James Carter leading the way in the men's race with a time of 48.05 seconds.


Lashinda Demus won the women's event in 53.85, beating Anna Jesien of Poland - who set a national record of 53.96.


The Paris event is the first event in this year's US$1m (?565,000) Golden League series.


It gives Paris a chance to show it can host a big sports event before the International Olympic Committee names the host city for the 2012 Games on Wednesday.