Asafa Powell (9.88 secs) edges Bolt (9.89 secs) at DN Galan Super Grand Prix

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, CMC – Asafa Powell used a tremendous start to beat fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt in the highly anticipated men’s 100 metres at the IAAF DN Galan Super Grand Prix track and field meeting on Tuesday evening.

 

Powell clocked 9.88 seconds, edging world-record holder Bolt (9.89), with Norway’s Jaysuma Ndure (10.06) third.

 

“I was really happy with the race, my goal was to win,” Powell told reporters after the race.

 

Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson was fourth in 10.06 in a quality field that featured several top contenders for the Beijing Olympics next month.

 

The result served up the only English-speaking Caribbean win in a main event on the programme although several CARICOM competitors secured podium finishes.

 

Powell, who lost his world record to Bolt in May, flew out of the blocks and enjoyed a very clear lead after 30 metres.

 

Bolt, whose 9.72-second run at the Reebok Grand Prix on May 31, knocked off Powell’s 9.74 as the fastest ever legal 100-metre time, grimaced with determination in mid-race as he battled to close the gap on Powell.

 

He gained significantly on Powell and the pair looked composed as they crossed the finish line a mere 0.01 seconds apart.

 

“My start was quick and fast and the speed stayed with me through the finish. I am really looking forward to the Olympics,” Powell said.

 

The win was a morale booster for Powell as he bids to recapture race sharpness after a couple of injuries had slowed his preparation earlier this season.

 

“A couple of weeks ago it was all about Usain and I was enjoying myself in the background," Powell said afterwards.

 

"It was very important to build up the confidence by beating him today. He's got the world record, but I've run 9.74 so you've got to watch out for me … Asafa Powell is still there,” added Powell, who was beaten by Bolt at the Jamaica National Championship in Kingston last month.

 

The event was Bolt’s last scheduled 100-metre run before the Olympics, while Powell is set to have a clash with world champion Tyson Gay at the London Grand Prix this weekend.

 

Thompson, T&T’s reigning US Collegiate champion, ran a solid race as he clocked the same time as Norway’s third-place finisher Jaysuma Ndure.

 

Bahamian World Championship silver medallist Derrick Atkins placed a disappointing fifth in 10.20 with Churandy Martina, of the Netherlands Antilles, seventh in 10.25 seconds.

 

Jamaica’s status as very potent sprint relay force was advertised by Nesta Carter winning Race 2 of the men’s 100 in a personal best 9.98 seconds, with his teammate Michael Frater second in 10.04 seconds.

 

Kim Collins, the 2003 World Champion from St Kitts and Nevis, was disqualified in Race 2.

 

The 36-year-old Bahamian veteran Chandra Sturrup earned the best Caribbean finish in the women’s 100 metres, getting third in 11.14 behind Americans Lauryn Williams (11.10) and Marshavet Hooker (11.13).

 

The Jamaicans Shelly-Ann Fraser (11.20) and Sherone Simpson (11.25) placed fifth and seventh, respectively.

 

In Race 2, American Bianca Knight won in 11.15 seconds, edging Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, who clocked the same time.

 

Jamaican Sheri-Ann Brooks (11.19) placed third and T&T’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste was fifth in 11.20 seconds.

 

Ferguson-McKenzie ran a fine anchor leg to lead a Combined Team to victory in the women’s 4X100-metre relay in 42.29 seconds, defeating favourites USA “Red” (42.40).

 

CARICOM quarter-milers took runner-up spots behind the world’s number one athletes from the USA.

 

World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner won the men’s 400 in 44.29 seconds, ahead of Bahamian Chris Brown, who ran well for second in 44.53.

 

Jamaican Ricardo Chambers clocked 44.84 for third.

 

In Race 2 that Australian Sean Wroe won in 45.20 seconds, T&T’s Renny Quow (45.73) and Bahamian Andretti Bain (46.12) got third and fourth respectively

 

Olympic favourite Sanya Richards easily took the women’s 400, the Jamaica-born 23-year-old winning in 50.38 seconds, chased by Jamaican Novlene Williams (50.85).

 

Two other Jamaicans in the race, Shericka Williams (51.17) and Rosemarie Whyte (52.09), placed fourth and eighth, respectively.

 

Jamaican Kaliese Spencer (51.95) was second in Race 2 behind American Monique Henderson  (51.80)

 

Double World Championship medallist Delloreen Ennis-London delivered another one of her many top three finishes this season when she clocked 12.70 seconds for the runner-up spot behind American LoLo Jones (12.64) in the 100-metre hurdles. Her teammates Vonette Dixon (12.76) and Brigitte Foster-Hylton (13.07) finished fourth and eighth, respectively.

 

Struggling to return to top form ahead of Beijing, the Bahamian World Champion Donald Thomas was way off the mark in the men’s high jump, dropping out at 2.20 metres for eighth place.

 

Sweden’s Stefan Holm won at 2.30 metres.

 

In the men’s triple jump, Romania’s Marian Oprea grabbed the No.1 spot at 17.25 metres, while Grenada’s Randy Lewis and Bahamian Leevan Sands were below their best – Lewis getting fifth at 16.85m and Sands (16.78m) sixth.

 

There was another outstanding win for the Cuban Dayron Robles in the 110-metre hurdles.

 

The world record holder registered a stadium record 12.91 seconds in a fluent victory over American David Oliver (13.04).

 

CMC lw/08