Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Asafa Powell celebrates after scorching his way to victory in 19.90 seconds in the men's 200m final in action on day three of the Supreme Ventures National Senior and Junior Track and Field Athletics Championships at the National Stadium yesterday. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
COMMONWEALTH GAMES champions Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson raced to world-leading times as the National Senior and Junior Track and Field Athletics Championships ended at the National Stadium last night.
Powell, who took his time on the corner, exploded in the straight before easing up at the end to win in personal best 19.90 seconds, the joint fastest time this year.
American Wallace Spearmon did the same time yesterday at the United States Championships.
Powell's time was four-hundredth of a second outside Donald Quarrie's national record of 19.86 seconds. He beat Ricardo Williams (20.61) and Xavier Brown (20.66).
"I did not come here to break the national record, I just came to do my best," he said.
"The groin injury, I have to be watching it, so I can't run the corner hard, so I had to take it easy," he said.
Powell also eased up 10 metres from the line and he agreed that robbed him of the national record. "It's a bad habit and I'll soon get rid of it."
He duly admitted it was not his best.
"It's just another race and they haven't seen my best yet," he warned.
In the women's event, Simpson, also secured her title in a personal best 22.00 seconds flat, the fourth fastest Jamaican woman ever over the distance.
Grenadian Hazel-Ann Regis (23.18) and Holmwood's schoolgirl Schillonie Calvert (23.26) finished second and third respectively.
"When I saw the replay I was really surprised because in the last five metres I was very easy," Simpson said.
"I am feeling good and I just hope I can go to Europe and perform well," added Simpson, who won Saturday's 100m in a world-leading and personal best 10.82.
In the 400m, Novlene Williams and Ricardo Chambers won their first national titles.
Chambers won the men's event in 45.13 seconds ahead Jermaine Gonzales (45.49) and Sanjay Ayre (45.88).
"I am satisfied with the win," Chambers said. "I think I would have run faster but I didn't get out as hard as I usually do, but I am satisfied with what I did today."
Gonzales, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, said: "The only disappointment is that I didn't run faster. I was expecting to run faster but I am not disappointed that I lost because Ricardo Chambers is a good athlete and he is really running well, so that's just the way it goes."
In the women's event, Novlene Williams won in 50.24 seconds ahead of last year's champion Shericka Williams ( 50.57) and Sonita Sutherland (51.37).
"It was an excellent run, I can't complain," said Novlene. "When I reached the straight-away all I wanted was to come home strong, keep my form, keep my composure and that's exactly what I did."
Shericka, the dethroned champ, said: "I tightened up a bit, I did not relax and drive my hands as I should, but I know I will work on that for my next race."
