Asafa Powell of Jamaica waves to spectators after his 100 metres race at the IAAF Golden Spike athletic meeting in the north Moravian town of Ostrava, Czech Republic, yesterday. Powell sent a message to his rivals across the Atlantic Ocean by running the 100m in a blazing 9.85 seconds at the IAAF Golden Spike athletics meeting of the season. - REUTERS
JAMAICA'S WORLD No. 1 rated 100-metre sprinter, Asafa Powell, produced another sizzling record-breaking run yesterday.
Powell's 9.85 seconds at yesterday's International Amateur Athletics Association (IAAF) Golden Spike Meet was not only a meet record in Ostrava but the fastest time run on Czech Republic soil.
Powell, this season's world leader over the distance, accounted for Nigerian Olusoji Fasuba (10.17) and MVP clubmate Michael Frater (10.20).
Only Americans Tim Mont-gomery and Maurice Greene have run faster than Powell and the Jamaican feels it may not be long before he races past them as well.
"I'm very surprised I ran so fast under such bad conditions," Powell said.
"I didn't expect the race would be so fast. My goal is to get the gold medal at the World Championships. And the record? We'll see," he said.
FOSTER-HYLTON WINS
Jamaica's other victory on the day came from Brigitte Foster-Hylton in the women's 100m hurdles.
Foster-Hylton won the event in 12.97, ahead of American Danielle Carruthers (13.00) and Aurelia Trywianska of Poland (13.03).
In the women's 100m, Sherone Simpson was second in 11.07, the fourth fastest time this season, adding to her season best of 11.03 done in Kingston last month. The event was won by Bulgaria's Ivet Lalova in 11.03, the second best time this season.
Maurice Wignall finished second in the men's high hurdles, running 13.56 behind winner Mateus Facho Inocencio of Brazil (13.51).
Davian Clarke (46.00) was third in the men's 400m, beaten by Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner (45.58).
Kemel Thompson finished fourth in the men's 400m hurdles in 49.47. The Czech Republic's Jiri Muzik won in 48.93
Germaine Mason failed to get a mark in the men's high jump while Michelle Ballentine (2:46.07) was last across the line in the women's 1,000m.
Debbie-Ann Parris (57.51) was fifth in the women's 400m hurdles.
