Sport

Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer

Former World 100m record holder, Asafa Powell, won his 400-metre heat in 47.56 seconds at the UWI Invitational at the National Stadium on Saturday.

However, his time was only good enough for third.

The MVP Track Club star proved dangerous in the final 100m of the race, when he cut down the previous leaders. He was forced to keep up with the early pace of regular quarter-milers Annsert White and former national champion over the distance, Lanceford Spence. Yohan Blake was also off to a fast start, but none could stop Powell when he surged in the straightaway and sprinted away to win.

"I did what I went out there to do, run like a sprinter," said Powell. "I could not run the entire race, so I had to run where my event starts," he added of his effort in the last quarter.

This was Powell's first individual run this season, a week after running a 4x400m relay leg at the Milo Western Relays.

"It was a good run, I beat some good guys, so I am happy with what I did," he said.

However, in the end, Powell's time was only good enough for third among the 400 races, behind Racers Track Club's Jermaine Gonzales, winner of heat 3 in 46.37 and Michael Mason of G.C. Foster College (46.67).

Simpson disappointment

Racers Track Club's Rosemarie Whyte won the women's event in a fast 52.19 ahead of Nadia Cunningham of MVP (53.92). Sherone Simpson, also of MVP, was third in 54.43.

Simpson expressed a little disappointment, saying: "I should have run better, but I can only blame myself, hopefully in the next race I can do much better."

Simpson, the 2008 Olympics 100m silver medallist, said her slow start was her main letdown.

Anneisha McLaughlin won the women's collegiate 400m in 53.50, beating her University of Technology (UTech) teammates Alecia Cutenar (55.01), Venecia Baker (56.24) and Carrie Russell (56.25).

World and Olympic 400m silver medallist, Shericka Williams of MVP, won the women's Olympic Development 200m dash in 23.25 ahead of Schillonie Calvert of Racers (23.97).

The collegiate women's 200m went to Stephanie McPherson of UTech in 23.63. Anastasia Le-Roy won the collegiate women's 100m in 11.69secs.

Meanwhile, Travis Smikle and Chad Wright, both of Calabar High, were in impressive form in the boys' Class One discus.

Both were in national record form as Wright threw 58.88m for the new national junior mark. But Smikle, the World Youth silver medallist, bettered that some 15 minutes later on his final throw of 59.21m.

However, Smikle may not be accredited with the junior record as no steel tape - the official measuring instrument - was on hand to measure the distance.