Powell beats Bolt in Stockholm clash
Tuesday July 22, 2008
 

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (Sporting Actions) -- Former World record holder Asafa Powell left fellow countryman Usain Bolt in the blocks and powered his way to victory in the men's 100m dash at the DN Galan Super Grand Prix meeting on Tuesday.

 

Following a false start at the first time of asking, Powell rocketed from the blocks and then held off a fast finishing Bolt to take the race in 9.88-seconds to 9.89secs.

"A couple of weeks ago it was all about Usain and I was enjoying myself in the background," said Powell.

"I didn't want to cause a lot of attention but I just did. I showed the world today that Asafa Powell is still here.

"It was very important to build up the confidence by beating him today. He's got the world record, but I've run 9.74 so you've got to watch out for me.

"It was a great race and I'm very happy. If I had lost today (to Bolt) I still would have been happy because this is my first race since I came back from my injury."

Nesta Carter, another Jamaican in form sprinter this season, posted 9.98-secs to win the first race and take third overall. Michael Frater finished in 10.04.

 

The women's race went to former world champion Lauryn Williams 11.10-seconds. Marshevet Hooker ran 11.13 for second. Bahamian Chandra Sturrup continued her come back this summer with another top three place finish, after taking third in 11.14.

 

Jamaicans Sheri-Ann Brooks (11.19), Shelly-Ann Fraser (11.20) and Sherone Simpson (11.25) finished outside the runnings.

 

In the men's 110m Hurdles, Cuban World record holder Dayron Robles won the event with a swift 12.91 over American champion David Oliver, who finished in 13.04.

 

The women's race, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep of Canada post the fastest time of 12.61secs to win over LoLo Jones of USA, at 12.64 and Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London, who finished in 12.70.

World and Olympic champion Wariner easily captured the men's 400m race in 44.29. Bahamian two-time world championships fourth place finisher Chris Brown clocked 44.53 for second, while Jamaica's Ricardo Chambers continued his build up to Games with a third place time of 44.84.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian star Meseret Defar just missed breaking Tirunesh Dibaba's 5000m world record of 14:11.15 after coming close with a 14:12.88 run to dominate the event.

.Elsewhere Russian world record holder Yelena Isinbaeva won the women's Pole Vault competition with a height of 4.85m, veteran Stefan Holm gave the home funs something to cheer about by capturing the men's High Jump with a mark of 2.30m, while Blanka Vlašic (2.02m) of Croatia registered yet another victory in the women's event.

 

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