News17 Feb 2009


Powell anchors 38.72 sec relay for MVP squad

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Asafa Powell anchors the MVP 4x100m relay squad at the GC Foster Sports College near Spanish Town (© Paul Reid)

Olympic 100m gold medalist Shelly Ann Fraser and former World 100m record holder Asafa Powell along with several Jamaican Olympic team mates continued their build up for the 2009 season with some impressive relay running last weekend.

The Olympians helped the Stephen Francis coached MVP Track Club set two records in the 4x100m relay at the 31st staging of the Milo Western Relays held at the GC Foster Sports College near Spanish Town, about 30 minutes from Kingston on Saturday (14).

Powell along with two other members of Jamaica’s World record setting 4x100m team, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter, teamed with Olympic alternate Ainsley Waugh to clock a fast 38.72 seconds on the hard and worn track in front of several thousands of spectators.

Waugh led off handing over to Frater just ahead of the field and the IAAF 100m silver medalist extended the lead handing off to Carter who gave Powell all the cushion he would need to win ahead of two other squads coached by Francis, Speed Unit- 40.12 seconds and the University of Technology- 40.21 seconds.

The winning time beat the three year-old mark of 38.87 seconds set by another MVP team.

A few hours later after double World record holder Usain Bolt opened his season with a 46.35 seconds win in a 400m race less than 30 minutes away in Kingston – see ‘Related Content’ under the photo - Powell ran a 46.27 sec leg to take the MVP 4x400m team from fourth to first in 3:10.56 seconds.

Waugh again led off (47.50), handing off to Carter (48.78), then to Marlon Robinson whose 49.81 leg saw him handing the baton to Powell in fourth place. Powell settled behind three teams in front of him until they got to the 250m mark where he opened up, picking off runners one by one and was in the lead with 50m to go.

Earlier Powell had told reporters he felt good with his efforts, “I was feeling very comfortable because it was a pretty easy race and we did very well and everything is looking positive so far.”

The women’s 4x100m was equally impressive as a brilliant start by Fraser was more than enough for Commonwealth Games 100m hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Olympic 400m silver medalist Shericka Williams and 2006 World Junior Championship 400m Hurdles gold medallist Kaliese Spencer to win in a sparkling 43.37 secs. This was better than the 43.46 seconds mark set by another MVP team three years ago.

The MVP women’s 4x400m team that included, Foster-Hylton, Williams and Olympic 400m hurdles gold medal winners and record holder Melaine Walker was second in 3:35.29 secs beaten by a University of Technology team.

The MVP club will leave Jamaica on Friday (20) for a two weeks training camp in Australia but Fraser will stay behind for school.

Fraser who said she had just started training two weeks before the meet said she “felt good but the track was a bit tough,” and was not disappointed by not travelling to Australia with the team, as “school must come first right now.”

Paul Reid for the IAAF

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