Asafa Powell, the fastest man in the world, has promised something special for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.
After racing to a comfortable 10.29 seconds victory at yesterday's Telstra A-Series, the first leg of the World Athletics Tour 2006 at Melbourne's Olympic Park, Powell told journalists that there are more in store."I'm feeling pretty good. But you can look for something different at the Commonwealth Games because this is my first event," he said.
DELAYED FALSE START
A delayed false start which wasn't called until the sprinters had hit the 40-metre mark, appeared to unsettle a few of the contenders, but Powell kept his cool to repeat his lightning start the second time around.
He said his start was awesome.
"The first start was awesome," the Associated Press quoted the world 100m record holder as saying.
"If I had gotten that start in Athens I would run maybe 9.6 seconds," Powell joked.
Powell, who was running his first individual 100m in almost eight months said he was nervous.
"I was quite nervous out there," said Powell who has been bothered by a series of injuries in recent years.
FEELING BETTER
However, after the race, he made it clear that he felt much better. "I'm quite happy that I got it over with. It's over and done with so I can look forward to the Commonwealth Games now."
In yesterday's event, Trinidad's Darrel Brown (10.34), Australia's Joshua Ross (10.41), Trinidad's Marc Burns (10.42), Jamaica's 2005 World championship silver medallist Michael Frater (10.53) and England's Jason Gardener (10.56), all watched Powell easing up from 60m.
He said it was a good field. "I'm running against a pretty good field, Michael Frater, Marc Burns and the other guys....but I'm the world record holder and I had to prove that I am."
Powell's MVP teammate Ainsley Waugh won the 'B' heat in 10.40 ahead of Nigeria's Uchenna Emedolou (10.44) and England's Athens Olympic relay gold medallist Darren Campbell (10.44).
Kemel Thompson won the 400m hurdles in 48.59 seconds ahead of South Africa's Louis Van Zyl (49.35).
Earlier in the night Powell also lined up in the 4x100m relay where he ran a strong anchor leg to guide the Jamaicans to victory in a time of 38.72 seconds ahead of Australia and New Zealand.
A touch of gamesmanship dictated the women's 400-metre hurdles with the late withdrawal of the events two favourites. Former world champion and Common-wealth Games favourite Jana Pittman pulled out of the event just minutes before the start under advice from coach and fiance Chris Rawlinson after learning that her main rival Nicola Sanders of England had withdrawn from the meet.
PITTMAN'S PULL-OUT
Pittman is believed to be suffering from a sore left hamstring and Rawlinson didn't want her to risk her Commonwealth Games chances where she is favourite to win gold.
Commonwealth champion and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Tatiana Grigorieva of Australia cleared 4.30m to finish second behind compatriot Kym Howe, who jumped 4.50m in the women's pole vault. Canada's Stephanie McCann was third with a clearance of 4.20m.
The Melbourne meet is one of 12 Grand Prix meets in the second tier of the new World Athletics Tour. The top group comprises six IAAF Golden League and six Super Grand Prix meets and culminates with the fourth World Athletics Final at Stuttgart, Germany.
