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Powell, Simpson
star at World Athletics Final in Stuttgart
Powell, Simpson collect 100m titles Jamaica athletes captured both 100m sprints at the 4th IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany for the second year running. The local-based MVP sprint pair of Asafa Powell, the world’s 100m record holder, and Sherone Simpson, were the impressive individuals. Though he looked easy in the end, Powell had to depend on his top-end speed to take him past Americans Leonard Scott, who got a very good start, and the fast-finishing Tyson Gay in the men's 100 metres. Powell admitted he was lost at the start. "I felt dead in the first half of the race, but then I told myself that I can run as fast as any of these guys and then I picked up my stride and I came through in the end," Powell told journalists after the race. In the end, Powell ran under 10 seconds in the 100m for a record 12th time this year. The Jamaican started slowly before charging through the last 50m to finish in 9.89 and edge Scott (9.91) and Gay (9.92). He said the slow start was a result of a false start. "I was concentrating on not getting the second false start, so I stayed in my blocks a little too long," added the 23-year-old who was chasing a bonus US$100,000 for breaking the world record. Powell still collects US$30,000 for the win, along with his share (US$249,999) of the US$1 million Golden League jackpot winnings. Meanwhile, tested by American Allyson Felix, who beat her in the 200 metres on the first day, Simpson accelerated to a smashing finish to win in 10.89 seconds, the third-fastest time in the world this year. The faster times in the world so far this year were both recorded by Simpson; her world-leading 10.82 in Jamaica in June, and 10.87 in Rome in July. It seemed Felix might be set for the double with 30 metres left from lane four as she made her bid for victory, but Simpson had something special left in lane five and drove on to win. On the opening day, world champion Allyson Felix beat world leader Simpson in the women's 200m. Felix equalled her personal best of 22.11 to finish ahead of Sanya Richards (22.11) and Simpson (22.22). Felix was excited to beat the Jamaican who has dominated the half lap event this season. "I had a lot of fun today. I knew that I could beat Sanya and Sherone and I am very happy I did. Running my PB is amasing," said Felix. Jamaicans Novlene Williams (50.36) and Shericka Williams (50.44) took second and third respectively in the women’s 400m while Michael Blackwood (45.09), finished fifth in the men’s equivalent. Jamaican Kemel Thompson was fifth in 48.61 and McFarlane behind him in 48.73 in the men’s 400m hurdles won by Greek Periklis Iakovakis won in a fast 47.92. World Champion Trecia Smith failed to register a legal jump in the triple jump while James Beckford was seventh in the men’s long jump with a best leap of 7.83m as Panamanian Irving Saladino was again outstanding, winning with a leap of 8.41m. Jamaica’s Brigitte Foster-Hylton finished fifth (12.66) in the women’s 100 hurdles, which was won by America’s Michelle Perry in 12.52 seconds. In a close finish to the women’s 800m Jamaica’s Kenia Sinclair ended up fourth in 1:59.75. Cuba’s Zulia Calatayud won in 1:59.02 just ahead of Kenya’s Commonwealth champion Janeth Jepkosgei, 1:59.10. |
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