Walker, Powell win in London

Walker, Powell win in London

Jamaica's Asafa Powell (centre) winning the men's 100metres in 9.87 seconds, ahead of fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter (right),10.13 and Trinidad & Tobago's Marc Burns, 10.16, during the British Grand Prix at Gateshead International Stadium, yesterday. - ap

london, england (cmc)

Olympic 400-metre hurdleschampion Melaine Walker and sprinter Asafa Powell logged Jamaicanvictories at the Aviva British Grand Prix track and field meetyesterday.

Inrainy conditions at Gateshead, Powell sped to an easy win in the men's100 metres in 9.87 seconds, and Walker stepped away from her rivals fora very solid victory in 54.51 seconds.

Walker,responsible for one of six gold medals for Jamaica at the recentBeijing Olympics in China, was unchallenged as she came home almost afull second in front of Poland's Anna Jesien (55.35). Britain's TashaDanvers (55.61) was third.

"Heat in Beijing, rain in Gateshead, it doesn't bother me at all," said Walker.

"It was just good to win," she added.

Meanwhile, Powell shrugged off his disappointing run in Beijing — fifth in the 100-metre final — to dominate the sprint.

"Itwould have been different in the Olympics if I had run like this. Butthe past is the past and this is the present," Powell told reportersafter his win.

He too was untested as his Jamaican training partner Nesta Carter (10.13) and Trinidad and Tobago's Marc Burns (10.16) chased him home.

Kim Collins, of St Kitts and Nevis, was fourth in 10.23 seconds.

Collinsalso raced in the 200 metres and placed sixth in 20.68 seconds, asreigning World Champion Tyson Gay won in 20.26 seconds, ahead of fellowAmerican Wallace Spearmon (20.41) and Ireland's Paul Hession (20.61).

Antiguan Brendan Christian was fifth in 20.65 seconds.

Jamaica'sOlympic 100-metre champion Shelly-Ann Fraser was beaten into secondspot by American Lauryn Williams, who went on to cop the sprint double.

Williams(11.24) edged Fraser (11.29) in the 100 metres, in which BahamianDebbie Ferguson-McKenzie (11.42) and Jamaican Sherone Simpson (11.67)placed third and eighth, respectively.

Bit difficult

"It's a bit difficult to come down off the high of the Olympics and I'm still feeling a little tired," said Fraser.

"I'd have loved to have won, but it just wasn't to be today," she added.

Williams clocked 22.65 in her 200-metre win, chased by Ferguson-McKenzie (22.73) and Jamaican Olympic 400-metre silver medallist Shericka Williams (22.80).

There were a few other top three results for Caribbean athletes at the meet.

T&T'sAto Stephens (46.09) placed third in the men's 400 metres thatBritain's Martyn Rooney (45.35) won, and Jamaican Markino Buckleyclocked 50.04 in the men's 400m hurdles, behind Poland's Marek Plawgo(49.07) and American Bershawn Jackson (49.11).

Grenada'sRandy Lewis placed second in the men's triple jump at 16.51 metres asBrazilian Jadel Gregorio emerged a huge winner at 17.13 metres.

Former Jamaica representative Germain Mason sustained his fine Olympic form and won the men's high jump at 2.27 metres.