POWELL
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, CMC:
JAMAICA'S NEW world sprint star Asafa Powell says in spite of his win at the Athletissima Super Grand Prix on Tuesday night, he is disappointed at missing out on another sub-10 clocking.
In registering a swift 10.00 seconds, Powell only missed his mark by 0.01 seconds, but admits he anticipated another nine-point run just under seven weeks from the start of the athletics programme at the Athens Olympics.
"I expected a sub-10 seconds time but unfortunately I fell back from the blocks and I missed the chance to achieve my goal," said the powerful 21-year-old.
Powell, who shot to world prominence last September with a win at the Brussels Golden League, has put together the world's best cluster of times so far this year 9.91, 9.99, and now 10.00 for three of the world's fastest six times this season.
Only American Shaun Crawford (9.88) has gone faster than him this year and he believes he is well positioned for a medal at the August 13-29 Olympics in Greece.
FIGHT FOR A MEDAL
"I feel that after my 9.91 win at the Jamaican Championships, I can go to Athens to fight for a medal at the Olympic Games," he told reporters.
Powell was one of four Caribbean winners at the Athletissima meet on Tuesday night.
Grenada's Alleyne Francique continues to show impressive form ahead of Athens, winning the men's 400 metres in 44.75 seconds.
Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London, advertising clear comeback success this season following injury and the birth of her first child since her fourth place finish at the Sydney Olympics, captured the 100-metre hurdles in 12.57 seconds.
In one of her best performances this season, Ennis-London topped Spain's Nigeria-born Glory Alozie (12.69), and her Jamaican rival, Brigitte Foster (12.69).
Jamaica had another win when Chris Pinnock took the men's 110-metre hurdles B-Race in 13.57 seconds.
