Double delight for Pintusevich-Block

Zhanna Pintusevich-Block is in top form

World champion Zhanna Pintusevich-Block gave herself the ideal birthday present by clocking the fastest time in the world this year in the 100m.

The Ukrainian sprinter ran the season's best time of 10.84 seconds during the Vardinoyiannia meet in Crete on Sunday - the day after her 30th birthday.

"I celebrated my 30th birthday and I must say I was very lucky to receive a wonderful present on the following day," said Pintusevich-Block on Monday.

"I won over a very good field in a time of 10.84. This is not only my best of the season, but also the world's leading mark."

Pintusevich-Block is expected to next compete at a meet in Hechtel, Belgium on 20 July.

"There is nothing that makes an athlete feel better than to win and improve with each race," she said.

Pintusevich-Block beat Marion Jones in the 100m final last summer at the world championships in Edmonton.

Shock defeat for Jones

Elsewhere, Austria's world 800m silver medallist Stefanie Graf has pulled out of next month's European Championships in Munich through injury, according to reports.

Graf has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering from a sciatica injury that will require a hip operation later this month.