News14 May 2006


“Gatlin has borrowed the record” - Powell opts for Relay; Sanchez injured in Santo Domingo

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Asafa Powell anchors Jamaica to 4x100 gold - Melbourne 2006 (© Getty Images)

Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicTwotime World and 2004 Olympic champion Felix Sanchez failed to please his crowd in his competitive comeback as his right foot injury beat him on the home straight during the 400m Hurdles at the Felix Sanchez Invitational in the Dominican capital yesterday (13).

The other focus of the night was the run of Asafa Powell, who was competing one day after losing his World 100m record** to US Justin Gatlin, but the Jamaican opted for a 4x100m relay leg rather than the individual 100m on this occasion.

>>UPDATE - the reading of Gatlin's time has been corrected to EQUAL the World record**. Click here for full story<<

“Do not cry” Sanchez

Sánchez left the track crying in pain while the 5000 strong crowd were shouting his name. He fell to the track with about 110m to go to the finish line. At the end of the event, all runners went to help him.

The event was won by Fred Sharpe of the USA, who clocked 49.59, and was followed by his countryman Joey Woody, with the same time, and Panama‘s World and Olympic finalist Bayano Kamani (50.11). Puerto Rico’s Javier Culson (51.05) and Dominicans Argénis Batista (53.25) and Luis Constanzo (53.29), finished fourth to sixth.

“Felix, you are champion. Do not cry. Your people love you. You are great”, said Sharpe to the injured champion.

“He got inured two weeks ago, but the love for his people encouraged him to do the race. We want to thank the Dominican people for their tremendous support”, said his representative Tony Campbell. “He had to stop training for 10 days. He resumed his preparation when he arrived in Santo Domingo last Wednesday.”

“I tried to convince him not to run, but he said that he could not be outside of the track in a meet named after him”, added Campbell.

Powell runs relay and says the record will come back to him

Asafa Powell, until Friday the fastest man the in the world, teamed up with his countrymen Nesta Carter, Mario Forsyth and 2005 Helsinki World Championships silver medallist Michael Frater to take Jamaica to a 4x100m relay win in 38.73 seconds.

The quartet beat the US squad of Ron Bramlett, Mardy Scales, Coby Miller and Rae Edwards, who clocked 39.38. The Dominican Republic was third in 39.66.

“I am happy for Justin Gatlin,” said Powell. “We are good friends and will meet at the June 11 Grand Prix in Gateshead, England, where great things could happen.”

“He borrowed the record. I will get it back. I am capable of running 9.60”, said Powell who has already run 9.95 this season.

“I am in my best shape ever. I never felt so well. That is why I can say that I will get the record back”, continued Powell.

Other highlights…

>In the men’s 400m - 2004 Olympic silver medallist Otis Harris beat 2002 World Cup winner Michael Blackwood of Jamaica, both clocking 45.13.

>2005 Helsinki world champion Tianna Madison won the women’s Long Jump, with her season’s best of 6.55m.

>In the women’s High Jump, CAC and Pan American Games champion Juana Arrendel, beat World Championships silver medallist Chaunte Howard (USA), both clearing 1.91m. USA’s Christine Spencer was third in 1.75.

>Jamaica posted two other wins with Vonette Dixon running 13.36 in the 100m Hurdles, and Frater taking the 100m in 10.42.

Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF

**subject to ratification

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