DOHA, Qatar (CMC) – Jamaican Asafa Powell produced a pair of handsome windy sub-10 times in the 100 metres to headline the opening meet of the money-rich IAAF Diamond League on Friday.
His first dash – in the second of two heats – stopped the clock at 9.75 seconds while his second was clocked at 9.81 seconds and brought him victory in the final in the Qatari capital.
Powell finished ahead of Jamaican Nesta Carter who finished in 9.88 seconds with American Travis Padgett as third in 9.92 seconds.
“These are very good times for the first race of the season,” the Jamaican said who was assisted by a wind reading of +2.3 metres per second.
“What happened tonight was pretty exciting, a real fight with so many guys running under 10 seconds.”
Powell, looking to re-establish himself this season, survived a stumble at the start to power away from his opponents in the closing metres to win comfortably.
His compatriot Jamaican Kerron Stewart captured the women’s 200 metres in 22.34 seconds ahead of compatriot Sherone Simpson (22.64) and the Cayman Islands’ Cydonie Mothersill (22.66) who was third.
The Jamaican pair of Sheri-Ann Brooks (22.73) and Anneisha McLaughlin (22.93) were fourth and fifth respectively.
Jamaica’s Olympic 4×400 metres replay bronze medallist Novlene Williams-Mills finished third in the 400 metres in 50.50 seconds, behind American Allyson Felix who clocked 50.15 to win the event.