The Hindu : Sport / Athletics : Powell emerges fastest; Wariner wins 400m gold in his first European pro meet

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Saturday, Jun 11, 2005

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Powell emerges fastest; Wariner wins 400m gold in his first European pro meet

OSTRAVA (CZECH REPUBLIC): Jamaica sprinter Asafa Powell won the 100 metres at the IAAF Super Grand Prix Golden Spike meet in 9.85 seconds despite cold rain on Thursday.

Powell's time was the second fastest this year, on May 8 in Kingston, but there he didn't race in rain and unusually cold temperatures only slightly above 10 degrees Celsius (50 F).

``I was surprised about the time,'' Powell said. ``The weather was so bad.''

Powell took the lead immediately after the start and breezed to the finish to be the first person to break 10 seconds on Czech soil.

But for the weather, Powell believed he might have attacked the world record of 9.78 by Tim Montgomery in 2002.

``Maybe,'' Powell said. ``I'm strong and confident about it.''

Olusiji Fasuba of Nigeria was second in 10.17, and Michael Frater of Jamaica third in 10.20.

Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner of the United States won the 400 in 45.58 in his first pro meet on European soil.

``It's a good start for me in Europe, my first race here, and I came out with the victory,'' said Wariner, who ran the fastest time in the world this season of 44.53 in California on May 22.

Leslie Dhjone of France finished second in 45.97, and Davian Clarke of Jamaica third in 46.00.

Bouabdellah Tahri of France upset Olympic gold medallist Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya in the 3,000-metre steeplechase, finishing first in 8 minutes, 18.12 seconds, ahead of Poland's Radoslaw Poplawski in 8:20.25, and Kenya's David Chemweno at 8:20.39.

Reuben Kosgei of Kenya, who won the event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was fifth, and Kemboi sixth despite clocking his season-best 8:21.38.

Bulgaria sprinter Ivet Lalova claimed the women's 100 in her season best of 11.03 seconds, setting the meet record and edging Sherone Simpson of Jamaica in 11.07, and Yelena Bolsun of Russian in 11.56.Roman Sebrle of the Czech Republic took the triathlon, a special event of the meet, which included the 110-metre hurdles, long jump and shot put, all in one hour. — AP

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