With two commanding wins in two days here in Monaco, Jamaica’s Asafa Powell proved yet again he is one of the strongest sprinting talents of the new generation.
Only 21 years old, Powell totally overshadowed his competitors in this afternoon’s 200m just like he did in yesterday’s 100m when he clocked his ninth sub-10 seconds of the year.
Blistering out of the blocks, Powell had already caught up with 100m Olympic silver medallist Francis Obikwelu of Portugal who was running in the lane just outside the Jamaican, 20 metres into the race.
It was Powell all the way to the tape from then on as he entered the final straight well clear of Frank Fredericks of Namibia and Stéphane Buckland of Mauritius.
The 200m race offered a similar scenario just a week ago in Berlin’s Golden League meeting as Powell was leading Fredericks coming off the bend but struggled to maintain his lead to the tape. Powell eventually headed Fredericks by just one hundredth of a second in Berlin.
It was a different story here in Monaco as Powell stormed through the final 50 metres and stopped the clock at a new personal best time of 20.06 well clear of Fredericks in second (20.31) and Buckland in third (20.41).
It was Powell’s fifth victory since the Athens Olympic Games where he came fifth in the 100m final and did not start in the 200m final suffering from a sore hamstring.
Obikwelu who was second in yesterday’s 100m came fourth in 20.58 ahead of 2003 4x100m World champion JJ Johnson of the US in 20.65.
“With Frank Fredericks and Francis Obikwelu in, there was a very good field, so I am happy I finished ahead of them.”
“This year I didn’t train specifically for the 200m and I think I am going to stay of the same schedule next year. My priority remains the 100m.”
Following the race all athletes delighted the crowd with a lap of honour which marked Fredericks’ last race in the principality of Monaco where the Namibian lived for the past five years.
LA
