Ber (Switzerland): Jamaican sprint star Asafa Powell ran 9.87sec in his last 100m outing before the Beijing world championships at a meet in the Swiss town of Bellinzona on Tuesday. Former world record holder Powell, who won the Diamond League meet in Paris earlier this month in a time of 9.81, finished comfortably ahead of his fellow countryman Nesta Carter (10.05 secs). 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 22-30.
Bolt tightens up, no 400m for Rio games
Meanwhile, Usain Bolt, who has been struggling with a pelvic injury, did not participate in the Swiss event. But Bolt is slated to compete at the Diamond League meet in London on Friday. In an interview with the IAAF Inside Athletics programme released on Wednesday, Bolt made no mention in the programme about next month’s world championships in Beijing. But he did talk about what will be his third Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, insisting he felt no pressure from the weight of expectation of a public who have seen him win an unprecedented double-treble gold haul.
“I want the best for myself,” said Bolt, who has also won eight world gold medals.
Bolt, however, was quick to put an end to any talk of him potentially stepping up to the 400m, insisting the one-lap race was too draining, but hinted he might have a shot at making the 4x400m relay team for the 2017 Worlds in London. “It’s definitely the pain,” he said of his reason not to step up. I don’t want to do that! I told the coach we’re not going to do it. He also expressed that maybe I should try, but I’ve already talked him down — it’s not going to happen. I think I’ll go through my career with my 100 and 200 metres,” the Jamaican sprint king added.
