[Track and Field] Powell Grabs Spotlight Away From Bolt

When the starter’s pistol went off, Asafa Powell shot ahead.

The Jamaican yesterday went ahead of 100-meter world record holder and fellow countryman Usain Bolt at the 30-meter point. Powell maintained a two-meter lead until the end of the race.

Bolt sprang back with a powerful spurt and narrowed the gap, but the distance was too short for a rally.

The two competed in the 100 meters in the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Sweden. Powell beat the world champion by 1/100 of a second with a time of 9.88 seconds.

His win is building anticipation over the 100 meters in the Beijing Olympics next month. Tyson Gay of the United States set an unofficial world record last month in U.S. qualifier with a time of 9.68 seconds.

Gay also broke his previous U.S. record of 9.77 seconds.

Last month, things were looking up for Bolt after he broke Powell’s previous 100-meter record of 9.74 seconds by 0.02 seconds. Afterwards, Bolt beat Powell again with 9.85 seconds against Powell’s 9.97 seconds.

But Powell proved himself again and grabbed the spotlight away from his countryman.

Spending two months rehabilitating a shoulder injury he suffered in April, Powell said he badly needed a win before the Olympics, and that his fast spurt pushed him to the win.

Bolt did not hide his disappointment, saying he got off to a bad start and failed to fully concentrate on the race.

Powell will take on American rival Gay in the 100 meters in the IAAF Super Grand Prix in London tomorrow. Bolt, however, will not run there.

kimsk@donga.com