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Powell bounces back from Olympic disappointment

Asafa Powell rebounded from another disappointing Olympics by winning the 100m race on Sunday at the British Grand Prix in 9.87 seconds.

Powell, the former world record holder in the 100 who finished fifth at the Beijing Games, extended his lead all the way and won by 3m.

“It would have been different in the Olympics if I had run like this,” Powell said. “But the past is the past and this is the present.”

Nesta Carter, Powell’s teammate on Jamaica’s winning 4x100 team at the Olympics, came in second with 10.13.

Kenenisa Bekele, who won both the 5,000 and 10,000 in Beijing, ran a world leading time in the 3,000, finishing in 7:31.94. Vivian Cheruiyot did the same in the women’s race, finishing in 8:33.66.

Tyson Gay won the 200 in 20.26, showing no signs of the hamstring problems that bothered him at the US trials and left him out of the Olympic 100 final.

“I am very frustrated and disappointed with what happened in Beijing,” said Gay, who was eliminated in the semi-finals and had to watch Usain Bolt’s record-setting performances from the sidelines.

“It was so frustrating having to watch rather than perform. I know I would have been the man to put pressure on him [Bolt] but that’s what I’ve got to work towards now,” Gay said. “But I look forward to meeting Usain and finishing my season strongly.”

Wallace Spearmon, who was disqualified in Beijing after finishing third, was second in 20.41.

Lauryn Williams of the US won the women’s 100 in 11.24, beating Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica by .05 seconds. Debbie-Ann Ferguson of the Bahamas was third.

“It’s a bit difficult to come down off the high of the Olympics and I’m still feeling a little tired,” Fraser said. “I’d have loved to have won, but it just wasn’t to be today.”

Williams later completed a sprint double, winning the 200 in 22.65.

“It’s a bittersweet type of win,” said Williams, who was fourth in the Olympic 100. “We all wanted to win the Olympics, but to beat the medalists here was nice.”

Bernard Lagat won the 1,000 in a personal best time of 2:16.18.

Lagat, who competed at the Olympics as an American for the first time, struggled in Beijing. He failed to qualify for the 1,500 final and finished ninth in the 5,000.

“I was injured three weeks before the games,” Lagat said. “I had problems with my Achilles tendon so this makes up for that. Now I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
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