There certainly was no need for Asafa Powell to prove that he’s the fastest man in the world after he improved on his own World 100m record in Rieti less than two weeks ago. Yet the 24-year-old Jamaican was determined to show that he’s still in “World record shape” as he ran his sixth fastest race ever to win the IAAF VTB World Athletics Final here in Stuttgart.
Powell clocked 9.83 into a 0.3 m/s wind, his best ever clocking into a headwind!
It was clear from the gun that Powell was in a class of his own as the Commonwealth champion left Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway, his closest rival today, more than two tenths of a second behind. Ndure was timed in 10.06, a National record for the winner of last week’s ISTAF Golden League meeting in Berlin.
Following a first false start by Marlon Devonish which was credited to the whole field, the sprinters were held off as Monika Pyrek first and Svetlana Feofanova then both soared over 4.82 metres in the women’s Pole Vault.
In between the two jumps, Nigeria’s Olusoji Fasuba was disqualified for committing the second false start. When eventually the race got underway, Powell didn’t leave anything to chance and unlike in Rieti’s World record performance ran through the finish.
“I am very happy and impressed to run this great time,” Powell said. “It is still the third fastest time.”
It is in fact Powell’s fourth fastest performance behind his 9.74 World record, his three 9.77 clockings and Rieti’s final’s 9.78. Powell also improved on his own Championships record set on this same track one year ago.
A disappointing third at the Osaka World Championships, Powell admitted that he under estimated World champion’s Tyson Gay and promised he would not commit the same mistake at next year’s Olympic Games.
Laura Arcoleo
