Bolt & Powell in Brussels 2008 100m

100m 2008 Powell win at Rieti

RIETI, Italy 100m for Powell just not fast enough

Asafa Powell won the men's 100 metres at the Rieti Grand Prix international track and field meeting he didn't however break Usain Bolt's world record of 9.69 seconds.

After a false start he clocked 9.82 seconds running his heat an hour and a half earlier in a faster 9.77 seconds.

Much was expected off the back of his amazing 2nd best of all time 9.72 run in Lausanne last Tuesday.

Powell set his world record (9.74) on this same track a year ago.



"I wanted to run faster in the final but it was not the time for it. I know that I could have run the World record if I had not made the false start," Powell said.

His training partner Michael Frater followed him home in a superb 9.98 seconds, Frenchman Ronald Pognon was third in 10.10. Waugh got sixth in 10.14.

Where have all the Americans gone ?

6th Athletics Bridge EAA Permit

Nesta Carter, Olympic finalist Markino Buckley and Kaliese Spencer were the Jamaican winners

Carter fought against a -3.4 m/s headwind to run 10.27 seconds and win the men's 100 metres.

Second was Britain's Olympic semi-finalist Tyrone Edgar, at 10.44, Ghana's Aziz Zakari came in third at 10.49.

The big boys have all headed home and its great to see the Brits come up.

Bolt ends on high .. Gay bows out on low

So Bolt retained his top dog status after beating Powell in what will probably be the last outing for him in Europe.

Tyson Gay, following stating he was in good shape at the Olympics wound this back to "not 100 percent" before this race and then, not wanting to risk injury (his statement), pulled out.

Much like Lui in Beijing his pull-out was easily forseshadowed by statements that indicated his lack of ability to win laying the foundations of an excuse for failure even if he did race.

It's sad to see the once powerful US runner "run away" from racing yet again however one now has to ask if the problem is not his leg but in his mind. A repeat of his pattern of race ducking after the World titles perhaps?

It's far too early to write him of though. Sprinters often enjoy a long time at the top ... and he could be a force in London.

Right now by competitive standards he's nowhere, for whatever reason; he can only improve over the winter.

For all the promise great athletes show none could be as dramatic in outcomes as this seasons ending.

Bolt closed out head held high giving the world one of the greatest sprinting displays of all time and turning in emphatic post Olympic runs; to cap off his three gold medals. Powell didn't shine as brightly as hoped at the right time though played a crucial part in Bolts relay gold.


Tyson Gay in contrast seems to have managed to run his season with multiple errors from the moment he got injured .. from bungles that hurt him and eventually crippled his teams prospects to perhaps a season closing on a no-show.

The Big Race?

Bolt, Powell, Gay in Brussels is the one we have been waiting for since before Beijing.

And a summer of Powell dodging by Gay after the worlds.

The 9.72 in Lausanne by Powell on Tuesday, the second fastest time in history, only 0.03 off the WR, shows he can't be written off.

With a few weeks out of the spotlight after his Olympic disasters Tyson Gay will be the man to watch or being watched.

A plain "I'm not at 100 percent yet" from him suggests Gay may just be there to put on a much needed show for his sponsors and pick up a dime or two.

Hardly the talk of a man who is ready to take on and beat Bolt and Powell who are running the fastest times in history right now.

If a less than 100 percent Gay turns up then he simply will not win .. It could all be smoke an mirrors from Gay of course .... as at 100 percent he will run close to them for sure.

Explaining he's not at his best to reduce expecations, pressure or a plan to outwit the two fastest men on the planet .... ?