Angry Powell powers to victory

BRUSSELS – An angry Asafa Powell blamed officials for a dreadful start as he remained on course for a share of the Golden League jackpot with victory in the 100 metres at the Memorial Van Damme athletics meet on Friday.

The Jamaican world record holder was left in the blocks but powered home with a late surge in 9.99 seconds. American Marcus Brunson was second in 10.06 and his compatriot Leonard Scott was third in 10.11.”I wasn’t even ready in the blocks.I was kind of fixing myself and then I heard a bang,” Powell told reporters.”I could have broken a record today,” added the 23-year-old who equalled his world mark of 9.77 in Zurich last week.Powell is unbeaten in the five Golden League meetings and victory in Berlin on September 3 will guarantee him a share of the full one million dollar pot on offer.Any athlete who wins in five of the six competitions will be eligible for a share of $500 000.Those who emerge victorious from all six meetings will share an additional $500 000, although all eligible athletes must also compete in the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart on September 9-10.Three other athletes head for Germany unbeaten in this year’s Golden League series.American world and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner won the 400 metres 44.29 seconds.His compatriot Sanya Richards clocked 50.02 in the women’s race and Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba again saw off world record holder Meseret Defar in the 5,000.World champion Dibaba pulled away from her rival in the final 200 metres and cruised to victory in 14 minutes 30.63 seconds.Defar was almost three seconds behind her.The only world record of the night went to Kenya’s men in the rarely run 4×800 metres relay.Anchored home by world indoor champion Wilfred Bungei, the Kenya quartet clocked seven minutes, 2.43 seconds to beat the previous best of 7:03.89 set by Britain in 1982.Qatar’s Saif Saaeed Shaheen failed in his bid to better his 3,000 metres steeplechase world record, finishing in a time of 8:04.32, almost 10 seconds outside the mark he set in the stadium in 2004.Shaheen plans to run the 1,500 metres in Berlin next month after complaining he was bored with the ease of his victories.”It’s boring.When you get to run 2 000 metres alone, I mean, it’s boring,” the former Kenyan said.Belgium’s two newly crowned European champions were treated to a standing ovation before winning their respective events in style.Double sprint gold medallist, Kim Gevaert coasted to victory in the women’s 200 metres in a time of 22.68 seconds, while Tia Hellebaut took the honours in the high jump, clearing 1.98 metres.Kenya’s Micah Kogo smashed his personal best by 40 seconds to win the men’s 10 000 metres in a world leading time of 26:35.63.American Michelle Perry took the 100 metres hurdles 12.55 seconds, while Hasna Benhassi won the women’s 800.Nampa-AFPAmerican Marcus Brunson was second in 10.06 and his compatriot Leonard Scott was third in 10.11.”I wasn’t even ready in the blocks.I was kind of fixing myself and then I heard a bang,” Powell told reporters.”I could have broken a record today,” added the 23-year-old who equalled his world mark of 9.77 in Zurich last week.Powell is unbeaten in the five Golden League meetings and victory in Berlin on September 3 will guarantee him a share of the full one million dollar pot on offer.Any athlete who wins in five of the six competitions will be eligible for a share of $500 000.Those who emerge victorious from all six meetings will share an additional $500 000, although all eligible athletes must also compete in the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart on September 9-10.Three other athletes head for Germany unbeaten in this year’s Golden League series.American world and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner won the 400 metres 44.29 seconds.His compatriot Sanya Richards clocked 50.02 in the women’s race and Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba again saw off world record holder Meseret Defar in the 5,000.World champion Dibaba pulled away from her rival in the final 200 metres and cruised to victory in 14 minutes 30.63 seconds.Defar was almost three seconds behind her.The only world record of the night went to Kenya’s men in the rarely run 4×800 metres relay.Anchored home by world indoor champion Wilfred Bungei, the Kenya quartet clocked seven minutes, 2.43 seconds to beat the previous best of 7:03.89 set by Britain in 1982.Qatar’s Saif Saaeed Shaheen failed in his bid to better his 3,000 metres steeplechase world record, finishing in a time of 8:04.32, almost 10 seconds outside the mark he set in the stadium in 2004.Shaheen plans to run the 1,500 metres in Berlin next month after complaining he was bored with the ease of his victories.”It’s boring.When you get to run 2 000 metres alone, I mean, it’s boring,” the former Kenyan said.Belgium’s two newly crowned European champions were treated to a standing ovation before winning their respective events in style.Double sprint gold medallist, Kim Gevaert coasted to victory in the women’s 200 metres in a time of 22.68 seconds, while Tia Hellebaut took the honours in the high jump, clearing 1.98 metres.Kenya’s Micah Kogo smashed his personal best by 40 seconds to win the men’s 10 000 metres in a world leading time of 26:35.63.American Michelle Perry took the 100 metres hurdles 12.55 seconds, while Hasna Benhassi won the women’s 800.Nampa-AFP