Jamaica’s Asafa Powell got an above-average start, executed a brilliant drive phase and accelerate in the end to ran a season-best and world-leading 9.78 (+1.0 ws) to win the 100m at the Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland today.
The former 100m record-holder ran a very relaxed race to supersede his previous season best 9.90, which he ran at the Jamaica Trial (semi-final) a week ago. At the post race-conference in Jamaica Powell insisted that he was 75% fit.
The owner of the most sub-10-seconds 100m in history (over 66 and still counting), Powell defeated a quality field that included teammate and countryman Michael Frater (9.88 PB), France’s Christophe Lemaitre (9.95 – national record) and another Jamaican and teammate of Powell, Nesta Carter (9.99). Powell was very pleased with his performance, and with his renewed confidence, he is gradually establishing himself as a threat to dethrone his compatriot and world—record holder Usain Bolt in Daegu.
Jermaine Gonzales shook off a lackluster performance at the Jamaican Trials last week to capture the men’s 400m in 45.27secs ahead of Belgium’s Kevin Borlee (45.37), US Virgin Islands’ Tabarie Henry (45.37) and Bahamas’ Demetrius Pinder (45.99). Gonzales, who was 4th at the Jamaica Trials last week, attributed his poor performance (Jamaica) to having stomach problems in the heats and semi-final. His preparation for Daegu is experiencing a very challenging season, which began with his surgery earlier in the season.
A Composed Robles
Cuba’s Dayron Robles won the men’s 110m in 13.12secs ahead of Jamaica’s Dwight Thomas 13.16 and USA’s Jason Richardson (13.17). Robles, the world record holder (12.87) over the distance, is coming off an injury-plagued 2010 and has recently put together a string of fine performances. He ran a very composed race for the victory. Thomas rebounded well for second place behind Robles after finishing second in 13.38 behind Andrew Riley (13.36) at the Jamaican Trials last week.
Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas was second in the women’s 200m in 22.93secs behind winner Ukraine’s Mariya Ryemyen (22.85), with Ukraine’s Oleya Povh (23.04) in third. The 37-year-old Ferguson continues to impress as is coming off a week that saw her capturing the sprint double [100m -11.34; 200m- 23.09] at the Bahamian senior championships. A member of the Lance Brauman camp in Florida, she already ran a season best 22.76secs in Roma on May 26.
The women’s 400m saw Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills (51.73) and Shericka Williams finishing at the back of the pack, while Kaliese Spencer, who was schedule to compete, did not compete. The race was won by Botswana’s Amantle Montsho (50.23) ahead of the USA duo of Sanya Richard-Ross (50.61) and Nastaha Hastings (51.07).
Cuba’s Yarelis Barrios (64.29) was also a winner in the women’s discus throw, while her countryman Alexis Copello was third in the men’s triple jump, with a leap of 17.06m. Bahamas’ Leevan Sand finished 7th in the same event with a mark of 16.83m.