Greene storms to sub 48-second victory at IAAF Continental Cup

By Sportsbeat staff

DAI Greene dipped below 48 seconds for the first time ever as he claimed the prize scalp of Bershawn Jackson at the IAAF Continental Cup in Split.

IMPRESSIVE: Dai Greene powers past Bershawn Jackson to win the 400m hurdles title at the IAAF Continental Cup in a big new personal best (Reuters)

The newly-crowned European 400m hurdles champion, who heads to next month's Commonwealth Games brimming with confidence, clocked 47.88 seconds, taking advantage as Jackson clattered the final hurdle.

He is now just six hundredths of a second off erasing Kriss Akabusi's long-standing British record - a mark he believes could fall in Delhi.

"I reckon there's definitely another tenth of a second there and the national record is definitely within reach now," said Greene.

"It's something that I have long targeted, even if I wasn't thinking about it here.

"For years I've been intimidated by sub-48 guys, but now I'm one of them hopefully other athletes will look at me in the same way.

"To beat Bershawn is also a greet feeling. He has only been beaten by one other person (Kerron Clement) this season so to be one of just two people to beat him feels good and gives me a lot of confidence."

Greene will be favourite for another gold at the Commonwealth Games where Rhys Williams, the European silver medallist, and South Africa's  LJ van Zyl will be his chief rivals.

However, van Zyl was a distant fifth in Split, clocking a pedestrian 49.97 secs.

"I know he didn't do too well but he has been training all year for the Commonwealths, so I think he's the only serious threat," added Greene.

Meanwhile, a baton blunder by the French team, who were representing Europe, in the 4x100m proved costly as it allowed the Americas to sit top of the overall standings.

Americas - who won eight of the day's 20 events - hold a narrow nine-point lead over Europe while Africa sit third on 148 points with Asia-Pacific fourth on 134.