Headwind doesn't slow Powell as Jamaican wins 100 title
STUTTGART, Germany -- Asafa Powell ran the third fastest 100 meters of the year, and it came after two false starts by the competition.
The Jamaican won in 9.83 seconds Saturday despite a strong headwind, coming within 0.09 seconds of his world record.
Without world champion Tyson Gay in the field, Powell stayed calm as false starts frazzled the opposition. And once out of the blocks, he ran relaxed and blew away his rivals.
"One of the best," Powell said. "Considering the two false starts. I'm very happy and impressed to run this great time."
Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway was second behind Powell in 10.06, and Michael Frater of Jamaica was third in 10.11. Olusoji Fasuba of Nigeria was disqualified for a second false start.
The U.S. shot putters staged a repeat of the world championships, with Reese Hoffa throwing 68-feet, 10 inches to beat teammate Adam Nelson.
In the triple jump, American Walter Davis improved on his bronze in Osaka, winning with 56 feet, 11 inches, edging teammate Aarik Wilson. World champion Nelson Evora was third.
If Russian Yelena Isinbayeva was eyeing a world record, she was happy to at least come away with a victory.
Isinbayeva and Poland's Monika Pyrek were tied after clearing 15 feet, 9½ inches. Both then missed three times, so it went to a jumpoff.
Isinbayeva, always at her best under pressure, cleared 15-11½ on her first attempt. Pyrek who already set a personal best to get into the jumpoff, failed. Svetlana Feofanova was third.
Competitors had problems with starts all afternoon.
The 200 only got off on the fifth attempt, after countless protests and jeers from the 22,000 at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium. The surprise winner was France's Muriel Hurtis-Houairi in 22.73, ahead of Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie.
The 100 hurdles was a festival of false starts and three disqualifications, including one for Susanna Kallur of Sweden. Once the race started at the fourth attempt, American Michelle Perry won for the first time since the final at the world championships. With a time of 12.68 seconds, she beat surprise runner-up Josephine Onyia of Spain by .02 seconds.
The 400 hurdles had all the big stars lined up from the world championships in Osaka, Japan -- including the last two Olympic and world champions.
Reigning world champion Kerron Clement of the United States was poised for one of his late rushes, but he stuttered stepped before the last hurdle and failed to lunge at the line. Marek Plawgo of Poland held on for the win as both were timed in 48.35. James Carter of the United States finished .01 seconds back.
Without the all-dominating Jeremy Wariner, American LaShawn Merritt proved again that he is the second best in the world in the 400. After silver in Osaka, Merritt won the last clash of the season in 44.58, with Tyler Christopher of Canada second in 44.87 and Angelo Taylor of the United States third in 44.92.
World champion Tatyana Lebedeva took the lead on her penultimate long jump and held on to win with a leap of 22 feet, 3 inches, outdistancing American Grace Upshaw.
World champion Gerd Kanter of Estonia again held off double Olympic champion Virgilius Alekna in the discus, throwing 218 feet, 4 inches. It was only the second defeat for the Lithuanian in more than two years.
High jumper Blanka Vlasic won her 17th of 18 competitions this year. The world champion was the only one to clear 6 feet, 6½ inches, but she failed three times at 6-8½.
The season-ending World Athletics Final offers $3 million in prize money, with an extra $100,000 for every world record. Each winner earns $30,000.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
