OSLO, Norway, CMC – Jamaican sprint icon Asafa Powell clocked a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds yesterday to sweep the 100 metres at the Bislett Games, the third meet of the lucrative IAAF Diamond League.
The former World record holder, helped by a +2.1m/s wind, easily reached the tape ahead of Trinidadian Richard Thompson who finished second in an impressive 9.90 seconds.
Churandy Martina of the Netherland Antilles raced home in a time of 9.92 seconds for third. The time, not recognized because the wind was marginally over the allowable limit, equalled Powell’s personal best recorded in New York City two years ago and is the fifth fastest time ever.
Powell, who was without a major challenge in the race with fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt and American Tyson Gay sitting out, said the wind had not been a major factor.
“I’m not frustrated but I wish it was not so much. But still, I’m pretty happy about my time,” Powell said afterwards.
“I got a great start, but the last part of the race I was pushing too hard because my legs felt bad.
“The wind’s not that much over, so I’m pretty sure that, if it was 2 m/s flat, it would have been the same time.”
Thompson, who claimed silver at the Beijing Olympics, stayed with Powell throughout in an impressive outing with Martina hanging tough for third and Jamaican Michael Frater claiming fourth in 9.97, as the four top finishers dipped below the 10-second barrier on a warm night in the Norwegian capital. Powell had earlier won his heat comfortably in 10.05 seconds with American Trell Kimmons finishing second.
Thompson had sprinted to a season-best 10.08 seconds to capture heat one, ahead of Frater who also posted a season-best 10.08 seconds.
With the time, Powell announced himself as a serious contender for both Bolt and Gay, especially following his ominous 9.75 in Doha last month.In the women’s 400 metres, Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills was forced into second as Botswana’s Amantle Montsho won the event in a season-best 50.34 seconds.