Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Aleen Bailey ... after her third-place finish in yesterday's 400m.

THE WORLD'S fastest sprint pair, Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson, were in impressive form at yesterday's University of West Indies (UWI) Invitational at the National Stadium East complex.

World 100m record holder Powell improved on his personal best of 47.46 over 400m, which was done in his season opener at the Queen's/Grace Jackson Invitational on January 27, when he won yesterday's event in 47.17.

Mario Forsythe was second in 47.19, while Ainsley Waugh (48.12), Michael Frater (49.13), Winston Smith (49.60) and Germaine Mason (49.64) finished fourth, 11th, 17th and 19th respectively in the time final event.

In the women's 400m, Simpson secured top honours in 52.65 seconds, also a personal best, which erased the meet record of 54.78 held by Nadia Cunningham.

Brigitte Foster-Hylton was second in 53.81, while Aleen Bailey finished third in 54.43. .Simpson said: "I think it was a good time. It was very hard, but I am happy that I could run 52 seconds."

Good season

Now, after two open 400m races, Simpson anticipates a good season ahead.

"I have run more 400m than I did last season. I could run 10.82 (in the 100m) and 22.00 flat in the 200m. So I know that come Osaka (World Championships) it (my performance) will be very good.

"I know the 400m will help me in the 200m," she said. "I definitely want to run faster than 10.82 and 22.00." Meanwhile, Foster-Hylton said she was growing to love the one-lap event.

"I kind of like it. It's no real pressure, you just relax and run. "But all of this is part of my training and that is probably why I am having so much fun because I know in the long run it's going to pay off and it's going to enhance my running," said the World Champs 100m hurdles silver (2003) and bronze (2005) medallist.

Kaleise Spencer of University of Technology (UTech) Maximising Velocity Power (MVP) was again impressive in the 800m event, running 2:06.14, a new meet record. Spencer's MVP teammates, Shericka Williams (2:20.86) and Melaine Walker (2:20.87), were fourth and fifth respectively.

Xavier Brown of High Performance Centre (HPC) won the men's 200m in 21.25, while Shelly-Ann Frater of UTech took the women's event in 24.13.

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