Asafa Powell clocks 9.99 seconds in 100 meters at Rieti GP despite strong headwind

Powell runs 9.99 in 100 despite headwind in Rieti

RIETI, Italy — Asafa Powell ran the 100 meters in 9.99 seconds into a strong headwind on Sunday at the Rieti Grand Prix, on the same track where the Jamaican star set a then-world record of 9.74 two years ago.

Powell was hoping to improve on his season best of 9.84 that got him third at last month’s world championships in Berlin, when fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt set the current world record of 9.58.

Powell’s fellow Jamaican and training partner Nesta Carter was the runner-up in 10.08 and Simeon Williamson of Britain crossed third in 10.18.

The wind registered minus 1.5 meters.

“It was a very strong wind,” Powell said. “When I saw the wind blowing today I was like, ‘It’s not going to be a fast race.’”

There was also a headwind for the semifinals, which Powell led in 10.12 despite slowing down before the finish. In 2007, Powell set his record in the semifinals.

Powell believes he can still challenge Bolt.

“To be running these fast times is outstanding. He really needs some strong competition — he’s running 9.5 — so we need to get there too to put on a good show,” Powell said. “Before, I was the man to beat. Now I have someone in front of me, so I really have to push myself.”

Powell now will return to his in-season training base in northern Italy to prepare for the season finals in Greece.

Another member of Powell’s training group, Olympic and recently crowned world champion Shelly Ann Fraser, won the women’s 100 in 11.18 — into a headwind of 2.4.

Olympic silver medalist Sherone Simpson was the runner-up in 11.37 and Gloria Asumnu of the United States was third in 11.52.

Kerron Stewart, the Olympic and world silver medalist in the 100, won the 200 in 22.62, with Berlin 400 runner-up Shericka Williams crossing second in 22.69.

American sprinter Wallace Spearmon won the men’s 200 in 20.27 after placing sixth in the 100.

In perhaps the outstanding performance of the night, David Rudisha of Kenya clocked 1 minute, 42.01 seconds in the 800 to break Sammy Koskei’s 25-year-old African record of 1:42.28 and register the best performance of the year at the distance.

The 20-year-old Rudisha was eliminated in the semifinals at the worlds last month on a cold and rainy evening.

“I had problems with the cold, so it’s good to know that I’m in form,” Rudisha said.

Berlin runner-up Alfred Kirwa Yego was again second, in 1:42.67, and world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi crossed third in 1:42.86.