KINGSTON, CMC- Former world record holder Asafa Powell ran the fastest 100 metres in the world this year, rocketing to a world-leading 9.84 seconds at the Jamaica Invitational International Saturday night.
Powell ran a flawless race in a grand return to competitive action on home soil spurred on by a large turn-out of spectators at the National Stadium.
The time was Powell’s fastest in five years.
He was quick off the blocks and powered home in 9.84 seconds, the 84th time he has dipped below the 10-second barrier.
The Jamaican sprinter silenced a strong field that included American Ryan Bailey who was booed for his ‘throat-cutting’ gesture toward Usain Bolt after anchoring the US to victory in the 4x100m at the IAAF World Relays in The Bahamas last week.
Bailey clocked 9.93 seconds to finish second ahead of Jamaica’s Nesta Carter in 9.98 seconds.
Jamaica’s Andrew Fisher was fourth in a personal best of 10.01 seconds.
Meanwhile newcomer Elaine Thompson established herself as a force to be reckoned with for the 100m women by speeding to victory in 10.97 seconds.
Thompson, who had the world-leading time of 10.92 seconds done at the UTech Classic a few weeks ago, defeated a world class field.
The 22 year old Jamaican sprinter recover from a slow start to lead Commonwealth Games champion Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria and American star Allyson Felix at the half-way mark before pulling away for a comfortable win.
Okagbare was second in 11.06 seconds with Felix third in 11.18 seconds.
Thompson’s training partner, Jamaica’s premier sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was third in the women’s 200m in 22.37 seconds.
Fraser-Pryce came off the bend on the shoulders of Tori Bowie of the US, but both were caught by the fast-finishing Shaunae Miller of The Bahamas in an impressive 22.14 seconds.
Bowie clocked 22.29 seconds while Sherone Simpson was fourth with 22.64 seconds.Also, Diamond League champion Nickel Ashmeade of Jamaica ran 20.25 to win the 200 metres but American Tyson Gay who was also scheduled to run that event did not compete.
In the 400m, Jamaican-born Sanya Richards-Ross of the US romped home in a world-leading 49.95 seconds.
Richards-Ross brushed –off the challenge of her compatriot Francena McCorory who was second in 50.73sec with Jamaica’s Stephenie McPherson third in 50.98 seconds.
