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No stopping Asafa Powell

By Alison Wildey in London
July 29, 2006 15:21 IST
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Joint 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell stretched his unbeaten run to 11 races this year with victory in 9.91 seconds at the London grand prix on Friday.

Powell, who shares the world mark of 9.77 seconds with American Justin Gatlin, powered through the second half of the race to record his ninth sub-10 second time of 2006.

American world indoors 60 metres champion Leonard Scott finished second in 10.01.

"It's great to run under 10 seconds again. I didn't feel in the mood for the record because the wind kept changing," Powell told reporters.

"There's a bit of pressure on me at the moment. It's been a long season. It's hard to run at your best at every event.

"I have run nine races under 10 seconds now and that's tough on your legs," added the 23-year-old, who was given a rapturous welcome by the capacity crowd, many waving Jamaican flags.

On the world record, Powell added: "I think I'm going to run the fastest a human can run, there's no doubt about that."

Powell's world record set in Athens in 2005 was matched by Gatlin in Doha in May before the Jamaican equalled it again last month in Gateshead, England.

The pair have not met on the track since London last year, when Powell pulled up injured. American Olympic and world champion Gatlin withdrew from this meeting with a knee injury.

CARTER DISAPPOINTED

There was disappointment for the sport's latest sprint sensation, Xavier Carter, when he finished second over 200 metres to fellow American Tyson Gay, who won in 19.84.

Carter, who clocked the second-fastest time in history with 19.63 in Lausanne this month, came off the bend behind Gay and tied up in the home straight. He held off world silver medallist Wallace Spearmon for a time of 19.98.

"I didn't run my race. I ran a race to suit other people not me," Carter told reporters.

"Obviously I'm disappointed but it's just one race. I'll be back, I don't have uncertainty about that."

Jamaican Sherone Simpson got the better of former triple Olympic champion Marion Jones as the two enjoyed a private battle in the women's 100.

Simpson, the fastest woman over the distance this year, won in 11.00 seconds with Jones (11.05) finishing well clear of 2003 world champion Torri Edwards.

"I like to win races and Sherone has got the better of me for the last two," Jones told reporters.

"I'm confident that what I am doing in training is working and I'm doing better. When it comes to the big races I will be ready," added the American.

"Hopefully, next year is faster and I pick it up for Beijing (the 2008 Olympics). It's the ultimate goal for all of us," the 30-year-old added.

BEKELE BEATEN

Ethiopia's world record holder Kenenisa Bekele was beaten over 5,000 metres by American Bernard Lagat.

Lagat, Olympic silver medallist over 1,500, produced a late surge for victory in 12:59.22.

Russia's Olympic and world champion Yelena Isinbayeva found her form to win the pole vault after suffering only her second defeat in two years in Sweden on Tuesday.

Isinbayeva won the competition with her season's best height of 4.91 metres but was unable to add to her tally of 19 world records, three of which have been in London, failing at 5.02.

Sweden's Kajsa Bergqvist also narrowly missed out on a world record with three failures at 2.10 in the high jump. However, the world champion warmed up for next month's European championships in her home country with a year's best 2.05.

U.S. Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner won the 400 metres in 43.99, wiping out memories of his surprise defeat to Britain's Tim Benjamin at the meeting last year.

American Sanya Richards clocked a world leading 49.05 in the women's 400. There was also a year's best for Olympic high jump gold medallist Stefan Holm, who cleared 2.34 metres.
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Alison Wildey in London
Source: REUTERS
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