Powell powers to 9.97 season opener in Belgrade (© AFP / Getty Images)
Belgrade, SerbiaWorld 100m record holder Asafa Powell made his eagerly anticipated 2007 debut a notable one, running a world leading 9.97 in the 100m to highlight the second Artur Takac Memorial in the Serbian capital, tonight.
Powell relieved, content
“What a relief,” said Powell, whose season opener had been postponed by more than a month due to tendonitis of the knee. “I’m really happy to get it over with. I’m happy with it and am looking forward to bigger things.”
“It” was the 26th sub-10 second performance of career, the fastest of the young season, and, of most significance for the enthusiastic crowd of 15,000 at Partizan Stadium, the fastest ever run in Serbia.
Running conservatively from the start, Powell broke from the field at about midway to take the convincing win, well clear or runner-up Churandy Martina, who clocked 10.11.
“Of course I’m satisfied,” Powell said. It’s going to be a long season, it was 9.9, so I’m very happy. It’s the first race so you have to try to get everything back to normal.”
Coming up next for the 2006 World Athlete of the Year is a rare appearance in the 200m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Ore., a decision Powell said was made by his coach Stephen Francis.
“If it was up to me, I’d stick with more 100s. But I can run a fast 200.” Powell said that he’s been training harder than he’s ever trained before, and added, with a wide grin, “I could run the 400 right now the way I’ve been training.”
After considerable review, Michael Frater and Mark Lewis-Francis were credited with a tie for third, in 10.19.
Taylor continues to impress
Angelo Taylor continued his strong early season campaign with an overwhelming victory in the 400m. Running comfortably from the outset, the 28-year-old made up the stagger on the field by the midway point before cruising through the finish unpressed in 44.98 to remain unbeaten in seven races this spring.
“I just went out there and executed my race plan,” said Taylor, the 2000 Olympic 400m Hurdles champion whose comeback campaign has included a PB 44.35 over the flat. “I just treated it as a practice. And it felt fine.”
Ricky Harris was a distant second in 46.00.
Simpson debut postponed, Lalova returns victorious
The women’s 100m was to feature the debut of last year’s No. 1, Sherone Simpson of Jamaica, and Bulgarian Ivet Lalova, whose promising rise was rudely interrupted by a freak accident and broken leg almost exactly two years ago. After experiencing some discomfort in her left quad, Simpson decided against running, putting the spotlight on Lalova. And she relished it after her narrow 11.26 victory.
“This is just very emotional,” said Lalova, whose last outdoor race was an 11.03 victory in Ostrava in early June 2005. On the verge of tears, Lalova added, “I’m just very excited. This is my favourite day of my life.”
In a tight finish, Mikele Barber was second in 11.27, with Jamaican Sherika Williams third (11.34).
5000m World lead for Masai
With a sub-60 second closing lap, Moses Masai powered to a 13:08.81 victory in the 5000, another early season world leader, and a PB for the 20-year-old. His previous best was 13:09.85, and he indicated that he had plenty in reserve.
“I think in a more competitive race it is possible to run about 12:50,” said Masai, who nonetheless will focus on claiming a spot on the Kenyan World Championships squad in the 10,000m.
Hosea Macharinyang gave chase briefly over the final lap but settled for second (13:09.85), with Mark Kiptoo (13:12.60) finishing a Kenyan top-three sweep.
Bungei, Ceplak the 800m winners
World leader Wilfred Bungei bounced back from his Hengelo loss with an easy 1:45.50 win, a primarily solo effort, more than a second ahead of Edwin Letting (1:46.54).
“It was a good run,” said Bungei, the reigning World indoor champion. With the pacesetter stepping off the track at 400m, Bungei was left alone for what essentially became a speed session workout. “It felt great and I had plenty left.” He races next in Ostrava’s Golden Spike in late June.
It was a similar race in the women’s 800m for Jolanda Ceplak who won in 2:00.92 after moving into the lead with about 220 metres to go. But Faith Macharia was a closer runner-up, clocking 2:01.34. Croatia’s Vanja Perisic was third with a career best 2:01.50.
“The time wasn’t very important but it was good to win,” said Ceplak, the World indoor record holder and Olympic bronze medallist. “I had plenty in reserve.
22-year-old Cypriot Iouannou Kyriakos had a solid evening in the High Jump, perfect through a national record of 2.30m, before upping it to 2.32. Vyacheslav Voronin of Russia was second at 2.30.
Elsewhere…
Just as a light and brief rain began to fall, Canadian Angela Whyte opened the proceedings on the track with a 12.97 victory in the 100m Hurdles, well ahead of runner-up Danielle Carruthers (13.13). Clearly leading from the third hurdle, Aubrey Herring won the men’s high hurdles in a season’s best 13.51, .11 seconds ahead of compatriot Robby Hughes.
Ashu Kasim Rabo of Ethiopian won the women’s 5000m in 15:32.22 from compatriot Gede Utura Sule (15:32.70). Lakthouad Btissam of Morocco powered to a 4:07.25 win in the 1500m over Viola Kibiwott (4:08.08). In the men’s Shot Put, Latvian Maris Urtans reached 20.14m in the third round to defeat Serbian Luka Rujevic (20.08). American Becky Breisch won the Discus Throw with a 62.48m, and Jamaican Nolle Graham added two centimetres to her career best to win the Long Jump with a 6.65m leap over Poland’s Malgorzata Trybanska, who reached 6.54, and Latvia’s Vadim Vasilevskis won the Javelin with a 81.65m.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
