Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Left: Jamaica's Asafa Powell (sprints away from Trinidad and Tobago's Marc Burns (partly hidden) to win the men's A 100m race at the third Jamaica International Invitational meet at the National Stadium on Saturday night. Powell won in 9.95 seconds.
Right: Jamaica's Sherone Simpson (No.87) runs away from countrywoman Veropnica Campbell (right) to win the women's 200m at the Jamaica International Invitational meet at the National Stadium on Saturday night. Simpson clocked 20.14 seconds. - PHOTOS BY IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMAICA'S 100M World Record holder, Asafa Powell, led three world-leading marks established at Saturday night's third staging of the Jamaica International Invitational track and field athletics meeting at the National Stadium.
Powell, who holds the World Record of 9.77 seconds, set on June 14 last season, equalled Olympic and world champion Justin Gatlin's 9.95, set in Japan earlier on Saturday while his clubmate Sherone Simpson and Jamaican-born Sanya Richards who now runs for the United States, also secured world-leading times.
In the men's 100m, Powell recovered from a poor start to win in 9.95 seconds. Though he had to run from behind for the first 30 metres, Powell took charge of the field. By the time Powell got out of his drive phase, he had Trinidad and Tobago's Marc Burns, who got a very good start, covered.
"It was a good race. It means a lot to me to really run this time (9.95) today," said Powell.
The Jamaican blamed his poor start and the starter for not recording a faster time.
"I wanted to run faster, but the starter held us too long and it threw me off a lot.
"I came here to give Jamaica a good performance, but it wasn't what I expected, because the starter held us really long and that threw me off," he repeated.
"It was the worst start I have ever got in my life so far," added Powell, whose next race will be in Santo Domingo this coming weekend.
GATLIN CHALLENGE
Powell said his first sub-10 second clocking this season is not to send any message, but says that he is ready anytime to face Gatlin.
"When we both meet, we'll see what happens. I am always looking forward to meet him (Gatlin)," added Powell.
Asked if he was sending a statement to Gatlin, Powell responded by saying: "Well, this is how I make my statement, on the track and not with my mouth.
"Right now, I am just looking forward to run really fast, that's my aim right now," he said.
Meanwhile, Simpson ran a very smart race to continue her early outdoor season dominance over Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell, to win the women's 200. Drawn in lane five, and with Campbell behind her, Simpson went out like a shot from a gun and when she straightened the field was left for dead.
In repeating her Commonwealth Games success, her first victory over Campbell, Simpson, who led from start to finish, won in a personal best 22.14 seconds.
Campbell (22.51) and American Muna Lee (22.77), finished behind Simpson, who also broke the meet record of 22.53, set by Campbell last year.
Simpson was elated at her performance.
SIMPSON SATISFIED
"I was placed in front of Veronica so I knew I had to run the corner very well, I think I did 22.14 ... pretty satisfied," she said.
In the women's 400m, American World Championships silver medallist Richards won easily in a world leading and meet record 49.89 ahead of her teammate Monique Richards (50.83) and Jamaican Novlene Williams (51.04).
Richards, who attended Vaz Prep and Immaculate High before finishing High school in Florida, said it was a good race.
"I wanted to go out fast and I did. Christine Amertil (51.44 - fifth) and Novlene Williams ran great races, Monique Henderson as well, so I just wanted to win and I did," Richards explained.
In the men's event, Americans Lashaun Merritt (44.67) and Andrew Rock (44.89) repeated their top two positions from last year, but it was the last 50m run by Jermaine Gonzales who eventually placed third in a career-best 44.90, that gave the crowd something to cheer about.
Gonzales, who started out slow, ran gallantly in the last 50m to pick up third.
"I went out slow but I knew my finish was strong, so I just finished with all my strength. I am happy for the result, it's my personal best, what more can I ask for," an elated Gonzales said.
The World Junior bronze medallist, who blasted from almost the back of the pack with his late surge, said he and his coach (Fitz Coleman) have a good understanding, and "the programme (he's on) could not be any better right now," said Gonzales, who will run in Mexico this weekend.
STIRRING FINISH
The men's event provided the most stirring finish, going to hometown favourtie Bolt in 20.10 seconds over American Tyson Gay (20.12 ). Both athletes came off the corner side by side, from which stage it was clear that it was going down to the wire.
They fought a lively duel throughout the stretch and Bolt went into overdrive after trailing by about a metre near 30 metres from the finish,to catch the American and celebrate victory with his trademark bow at the line, while looking into Gay's face.
"I was kind of little nervous because of Tyson Gay and I didn't run my race. But I won and I think I did pretty well, I didn't tie-up too much so I think I am on the way right now," admitted the World Junior Record holder who was recording his third straight victory at this meet.
He added: "I know I'm better on the straight so all I expected to do was come close to him on the straight and I knew I would get him."
In what was expected to be the closest race, Jamaica's Commonwealth Games champion Brigitte Foster blew away the field to win the women's 100m hurdles in 12.69, finishing ahead of American Damu Cherry (12.79) and Delloreen Ennis-London (12.90).
The United States' Joel Brown won the men's 110m hurdles in a meet record 13.30 ahead of his teammate David Payne ( 13.31).
As expected, the fast improving Kenia Sinclair captured the women's 800m in 2:00.02 seconds, a new meet record, beating Americans Hazel Clarke (2:00.24) and Treniece Clement (2:01.77).
Sinclair was pleased with her time despite running slower than the 1:58.16 (national record) she established with a silver medal run at Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last month.
"I knew I could go faster, I just wanted to run as relaxed as I can, not to fight or anything because it's early season," Sinclair explained. "I just came out here to have fun and make Jamaica proud.
She said her main focus now is to run 1 minute 56 seconds.
"... I just want to focus on my goal and that is to run 1:56. If I run 1:56 I know I will be one of the top 800m runners in the world," she added.
In the High school events, Holmwood 44.49 (meet record) and 3:38.20 beat Edwin Allen (45.64) and (3:38.27) in the sprint and mile relays respectively, while Camperdown ( 40.41, meet record) beat Kingston College (40.70) for the boys' 4x100m title, while KC (3:11.61) took the mile relay ahead of Calabar.
