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'Tiny' Pacific islander learns fast alongside Greene
= = ATTENTION - CORRECTS to cut ref to island population in third para /// SYDNEY, Sept 22 (AFP) - It was hardly a showdown at high noon: the world's fastest man against the champion of the Cook Islands; Maurice Greene of the United States against 17-year-old Teina Teiti, running in senior competition outside his Pacific paradise home for the first time ever in the 100 metres first-round heats here this morning. Teiti was drawn in Heat 6 in a lane alongside Greene, the four-time world champion who routinely earns 100,000 dollars for each race. For a young man barely out of high school, it would have been understandable if Teiti had been overwhelmed by the occasion, as he was watched by an estimated 90,000 spectators in Stadium Australia. Instead, after finishing, Teiti said that he was not nervous, just extremely happy to be competing at the Olympics, if a little dissatified with his performance. Teiti, who has never before run 100 metres faster than 11.15sec, finished seventh and last in 11.22sec in a heat won by Greene (personal best: 9.79) in 10.31. Greene seemed less concerned about not beating his personal best than Teiti. "I should have broken 11 seconds," Teiti said. One of a two-strong team from the islands, Teiti plucked up the courage to approach Greene in the ready room under the stands. "I said to him, 'I race you today', and he said, 'See you out there'." Teiti, one of six children, said that he had learned from the experience of racing against the world record-holder. "I'd like to come back to the Olympics in four years' time. I want to be a professional athlete, like Greene. "Who knows, maybe next time I could return to the Cook Islands a hero.
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