Athletics: Powell, Simpson shine in Stockholm

Asafa Powell of Jamaica after winning the 100m final in Stockholm. Picture / Reuters

Jamaican sprinters Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson powered to victory at a super grand prix meeting yesterday but pole vault supremo Yelena Isinbayeva was surprisingly upstaged following a lacklustre showing.

Despite enjoying a near perfect start to win the men's 100m in 9.86s in Stockholm, Powell never came close to breaking his world record time of 9.77s set in Athens last year.

He swept past second-placed American Tyson Gay (9.97s) while Marcus Brunson finished third (10.09s).

"It felt like an easy and comfortable win," said Powell, who shares the world 100m record with American Justin Gatlin.

"I've been running nine-eights all season and that's what I came here to do. All I worried about was running against the clock. I didn't mind anyone in the race."

In the women's 200m Simpson equalled this year's best time of 22.00s to beat American Sanya Richards (22.35s) into second place. Bahamas' Debbie Ferguson was third (22.59s).

Simpson clocked 22.00s in Rome this month. "I was actually planning to go under that time but I won so I'm happy," said Simpson, who is also the world's fastest woman in the 100 metres this year. "I beat some good girls tonight."

American Allyson Felix, the event's world champion, finished only fifth (22.71s).

Poland's Monika Pyrek caused the biggest upset of the evening when she relegated Isinbayeva to second place in the women's pole vault.

The Russian managed to clear only 4.62m, well short of her world record clearance of 5.01s.

Pyrek also failed to go any higher but triumphed, having cleared the height in an earlier attempt.

The loss did not worry Isinbayeva ahead of next month's European championships in Gothenburg.

"It was a little bit difficult because of the head wind, which made it hard to concentrate," the Olympic and world champion said. "4.62m is obviously very low for me but this will motivate me for the future."

Isinbayeva will next compete at the grand prix meeting in London where she cleared 5m for the first time last year.

In the men's 400 metres, American Jeremy Wariner produced an excellent run to win in 44.02s.

- REUTERS