Powell proves form ahead of worlds

Jamaica’s Asafa Powell continued his build-up to the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China next month with his 88th sub-10 seconds clocking in the 100m, winning in 9.87 seconds (0.0m/s) at the Galà dei Castelli Bellinzona in Switzerland on Tuesday. Powell got off to a slow start on the six-lane track but caught the field midway and eased away to win before being escorted around the track on a lap of honour, according to Jamaica Observer. Compatriot Nesta Carter was second in 10.05 seconds with St Kitts and Nevis’ Kim Collins third in 10.13 seconds. Two other Jamaicans, Kemarley Brown and Andrew Fisher, both of whom have applied for a change of allegiance to Bahrain, were timed in 10.21 seconds for fourth and fifth, respectively. Powell’s time broke the record for the meeting, as he went below the 10-second barrier for the 90th time in his career. Powell, 32, will spend time training in Austria before moving on to Beijing for the world championships, which run from August 22 to 30. Tyquendo Tracey was second in the B race in 10.23 seconds (-0.1m/s), beaten by Turkey’s former Jamaican Jak Ali Harvey in 10.03 seconds, while Michael Frater and Winston Barnes finished in fifth and sixth places, respectively. Christania Williams was second in the women’s 100m in 11.29 seconds behind American Tianna Bartoletta in 11.09 seconds, while World University Games silver medallist Simoya Campbell failed to finish the 800m, stepping off the track after 400m.