Asafa bursts out of blocks in style
published:
Friday | February 22, 2008
World record holder Asafa Powell celebrates after winning the men's 100 metres during the Melbourne Athletics Grand Prix at Olympic Park yesterday. Powell won with a time of 10.04 seconds. - AP
MELBOURNE (AP):
WORLD RECORD holder Asafa Powell made a positive start to his Olympic season yesterday with an easy win in the 100 metres at the Melbourne Grand Prix athletics meet.
Powell, overcoming a cut knee that curtailed his training over the last two weeks, finished in 10.04 seconds at Olympic Park, well outside his world mark of 9.74.
He was two metres ahead of his Jamaican compatriot Michael Frater, who finished in 10.25. Former Australian record holder Matt Shirvington was third in 10.35.
Arrived with stitches
Powell arrived in Australia last week with four stitches in a deep cut in his left knee suffered in an accident at home in Jamaica. He pulled out of a Sydney meet last weekend.
After undergoing a long warm-up session yesterday, the 25-year-old Powell decided just an hour before the race that he would run. Powell, who broke the 10-year-old meet record of 10.06 set by former Olympic and world champion Maurice Greene of the United States, said he ran faster than expected.
"It's very important that I prove that I'm way faster than 2006," said Powell. "In 2006, I was unhealthy. I haven't done anything for two weeks and 10.04 is really impressive."
Powell first set a world mark of 9.77 in June 2005 at Athens and his latest record at Rieti, Italy, last September.
"This year, I am way, way, stronger than other years, so I am not worried about anything too much," said Powell. "9.74 is in my reach. I want to get there again and I will get there."
Easy winner
In the 400, Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner of the U.S. was an easy winner, finishing in 44.82 seconds, nearly a second ahead of second-placed Clinton Hill of Australia (45.78). Sean Wroe of Australia was third in 45.88 and American Darold Williamson fourth in 45.95.
"This is late February, so my training is not really where it needs to be," Wariner said. "I've got a lot of things I'm working on with my new coach, but it felt good today and I'm glad to get this race out of the way."
Wariner, who last month split with long-time coach and mentor Clyde Hart, had complained of feeling ill since arriving in Australia and sought medical attention for dehydration after the race.
"I've been sick for the past two weeks. It's been right in my throat and my upper chest, so it's kind of hard for me to breathe," he said. "I had to fight through it though because I knew I needed to get this race done."
