Too hot to handle - Powell, VCB, Mullings sizzle on the circuit

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

National champions Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown, along with this year's break-out sprinter, Steve Mullings, were all in impressive form on the circuit yesterday, as the Jamaicans sent clear warnings of their intentions going into next month's IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, with explosive performances in Europe.

Powell, competing at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial inside the Ferenc Puskas Stadium in Budapest, Hungary, continued his impressive pre-championships form, with a blistering 9.86 seconds run - the fastest time ever recorded in Hungary, en route to winning the men's 100m, with a barely-legal +2.0 m/s wind pushing him along.

The national 100m champion and former world record holder - who is already responsible for the fastest time in the world this year, courtesy of his one month-old 9.78 seconds run in Lausanne, led comfortably from start to finish. The Jamaican had the clear advantage midway the race, but ensured that everyone was put in their place, leaving the rest of the field embarrassingly in his wake, with Zimbabwe's Ngonidzashe Makusha finishing second, in 10.16 seconds and Barbadian Andrew Hinds third in 10.24 seconds. Young Jamaican Dexter Lee was fourth in 10.30 seconds. Powell's time is the fifth fastest in the world so far this season.

It was clear from the heats round that Powell was priming himself for a fast time in the final. He ran an easy 9.90 seconds to finish ahead of Lee, 10.40 seconds in a +1.8 m/s seconds wind. Powell will now turn his attention to the August 5-6 AVIVA London Diamond League meet.

Campbell-Brown, the national 100m and 200m champion posted her fastest time over 200m this season with a smooth 22.26 seconds run, also in Hungary, as she captured the half-lap event ahead of Sanya Richards-Ross 22.63 seconds and Blessing Okagbare, 22.94 seconds, who were both also posting season best times.

Looks in good form

The Olympic champion has never won a 200m gold medal at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, but looks in good form to test defending champion Allyson Felix and the other suspects going into the Daegu, South Korean championships. The other Jamaican in the race Shereefa Lloyd, could only manage sixth place, despite her season best 23.46 seconds.

Mullings continues to show that he will be a factor, taking the sprint double at the Meeting Terra Sarda in Italy. Mullings, 9.93 seconds, won the 100m ahead of compatriot Lerone Clarke, 10.12 seconds, before claiming the 200m in 20.22 seconds.

Lansford Spence won the men's 400m in 46.26 seconds, while Olympic and world silver medalist Shericka Williams took the female equivalent in 51.06 seconds. Joint Olympic silver medallist Sherone Simpson was second in the 100m in a time of 11.22 seconds behind Alexandria Anderson from the USA, 11.12 seconds.

Other Jamaican competitors at the Hungarian meet included Natasha Ruddock, 13.16 seconds, who was fifth in the women's 100m hurdles; Omar Brown, 47.14 seconds, for fifth in the men's 400m and Andrew Riley, 14.10 seconds, for eight, in the men's 110m hurdles.