Powell pulls out of Bolt, Gay clash

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

It was supposed to be a showdown between the world's fastest sprinters, but an eleventh hour withdrawal by former 100m record holder Asafa Powell due to injury means that Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay will have one less thing to worry about.

The trio were scheduled to meet in the first 100 metres involving all three at the DN Galan Diamond League Meet in Stockholm, Sweden, tomorrow. However, Powell has suffered a groin injury which has also led to hamstring and back issues, according to release from his agent, Paul Doyle, and as a result will sit out the highly expected clash.

The release goes on to state that Powell, who is the current 100m Diamond League leader with 10 points, suffered a minor groin injury in his loss to Bolt at the Diamond League Paris meet on July 16 and has been pegged back with a plethora of issues since then, including hamstring and back issues. The Jamaican as reportedly been training but has been unable to commit entirely to his preparations because of the discomfort.

Severe pain

"This morning, Asafa tested himself with starts from blocks and was just unable to push from the blocks without severe pain. He has improved over the course of the past week but is still not at a level where he could attempt a race," read the statement.

The clash would have been the first time all three would have lined up in the same race since their titanic clash at the Berlin World Championships last year where Bolt rewrote the record books, winning the event in a world-record 9.58 seconds. Gay got the better of Powell for the silver as the Jamaican had to settle for the bronze medal.

Sprinting fans are still expecting to be treated to a high-class contest with double world-record holder Bolt and Gay, the fastest American in history, down to square off.

Like he did in Berlin, it should be the same story as Bolt should continue his run of success in the event and if tested, could go close to his world-record mark .

Gay, who clocked 9.96 seconds in the preliminary round at Gateshead before beating Powell in the final with a season-best 9.94 seconds, will have to be at his very best.

Several other Jamaicans will be competing at the meet as Novlene Williams-Mills and Shericka Williams will compete in the women's 400 metres while Korene Hinds will be active in the women's 3,000 metres steeple chase where her countrywoman Madrea Hyman is down to be the 'rabbit' in the event. Isa Phillips will face a strong field in the men's 400 metres hurdles.