ATHLETICS: Chambers all smiles; THE LAUSANNE GRAND PRIX.

Byline: DAVID MARTIN 

DESPITE being Europe's leading sprinter this year, Dwain Chambers admitted he badly needed a good run in last night's Lausanne Grand Prix - for two very good reasons.

After finishing third in a season's best 100 metres times of exactly 10 seconds behind the Olympic gold and silver medallists Maurice Greene and Ato Boldon, the British No 1 confessed he wished on the warm-up track the race was already over and done with.

Nervous, having surprisingly lost over 100m to Jon Drummond in Glasgow last Sunday, Chambers was a little worried he had been rather loud about his plans to beat Greene in next month's World Championships.

But after a cracking race, in which world record holder Greene and Boldon beat him in very fast times of 9.90 and 9.99, Chambers said: "I've got to be pleased with that."

But the 23-year-old Londoner revealed: "When I was warming up I was having kittens. I just wanted the race to be over."

With a smile on his face, he added: "I also needed to do something special after losing on Sunday - and as I have done a lot of taking about Greene being beatable just lately, I'm glad I had a good one."

More importantly, Chambers will continue to pursue his ambition of wresting the world title away from Greene, who it seems is already charging to a third successive victory in Edmonton.

Chambers, who last year trailed in last at the Stade Olympique when not fully recovered from a hamstring injury, now believes his form seriously suggests he can achieve better than the bronze medal he took two years ago in the Seville World Championships.

Knowing he had tested Greene - who equalled his own world leading mark of the year - Chambers said: "I got out with him and when he pulled away I forced myself not to panic, just concentrate and run my own race.

"But my heart was beating and I just cannot remember anything else about the race. After last year here I was determined to produce the goods.

"And I think I did that. I'm pretty near wrecked. In a field like that it takes everything out of you.

"I had to prove to myself I could stay with him - and he is getting nearer, race by race. Now I'll concentrate on getting myself ready for the British trials."

Chris Rawlinson, relegated to the 400m hurdles 'B' race, ran 49.11sec for second place when well beaten by Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, who clocked a personal best 48.56sec.

Jo Pavey, running her first race of the year after injury, placed seventh in a time of 8:58.97 as victory over 3000m went to Morocco's Asmae Leghzaoui.

Setting a meeting record, the African 5000m champion won at a canter in 8:39.89.

Explaining her absence away from competition, the 27-year-old Pavey, a surprise Olympic finalist over that distance, said: "I had a good winter's training then I went down with a shin injury to my right leg in April.

"I couldn't run at all for five weeks and since I started again I've only had two track sessions.

"I'm disappointed with tonight. But there again you always think you are in better shape and expect to do well when returning."

As Ali Saidi-Sief of Algeria won the 1500m in 3:29.51, the fastest time in the world this year, Andrew Graffin finished 14th in a season's quickest time of 3:37.77.

CAPTION(S):

FINE EFFORT: British No 1 Dwain Chambers finishes in third spot behind Olympic gold medallist Maurice Greene in Lausanne last night. Chambers clocked a season's best time of 10 seconds in the 100-metre event