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Asafa Powell powers to world-best 9.78

Published:Friday | July 1, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Sprint star Asafa Powell powered to a world-leading 9.78 seconds in the men's 100m at the Athletissima IAAF Diamond League international athletics meeting in the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday. - ap
Jamaica's Jermaine Gonzales (right) getting the better of Belgium's Kevin Borlee in the men's 400 metres at the Athletissima IAAF Diamond League international athletics meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday. Gonzales won in 45.27 seconds with Borlee second in 45.37. - AP
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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (CMC):

Asafa Powell ran the fastest 100 metres in the world this year yesterday at the IAAF Diamond League Athletissima meet, as Jermaine Gonzales continued his good form.

Powell established himself as a serious challenger for fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt at the World Championships later this year, clocking 9.78 seconds.

Powell's compatriot Michael Frater was second in a personal best time of 9.88 seconds and Frenchman Christopher Lemaitre ran a national record time of 9.95.

"It was a fantastic run, a bit cold out there, but I managed to push through," Powell told the BBC.

"I got a great start. We've been practising that for a very long time now. I definitely can't wait to face Usain."

The 28-year-old Powell followed up his victory at the Jamaica national championships last weekend with another impressive performance.

Bad news for Gay

He delivered more bad news to injured American star Tyson Gay, clipping one hundredth of a second off his mark set on June 4 in Florida.

Powell ran 9.90 at the Jamaica championships, but Bolt has a season's best time of 9.91.

The defending World 100 champion and record holder ran that time at the Diamond League meet last month in Rome, when Powell finished runner-up.

Gonzales, another Jamaican, saw off the challenge of Belgium's Kevin Borlee and Tabarie Henry of the United States Virgin Islands in the men's 400, taking victory in a time of 45.27.

Borlee finished one tenth of a second behind Gonzales, with Henry clocking 45.57, and newly minted Bahamian champion Demetrius Pinder was fourth in 45.99.

Undisputed Bahamian sprint queen Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie clocked 22.93, finishing eight hundredths of a second behind behind Mariya Ryemyen of the Ukraine in the women's 200.

Jamaican Dwight Thomas ran 13.16, just four hundredths of a second behind Cuba's Dayron Robeles in the men's 110 hurdles, and was the only other Caribbean athlete to make it to the podium.

In the women's 100m hurdles, Jamaica's Delloreen Ennis-London finished at the back of the field in 13.58 seconds. The event was won in 12.47 by Australia's Sally Pearson, just ahead of American Danielle Carruthers, 12.48.

Jamaica's two representatives in the women's 400m also ended at the back of the field, with national champion Novlene Williams-Mills sixth in 51.73 seconds and Shericka Williams seventh in 51.86. Amantle Monsho of Botswana won the event in 50.23.