Powell wins 100m as Brits shine at London Grand Prix
Friday, 25 Jul 2008 21:55
Asafa Powell will face a tougher 100m race at the Olympics
Former world record holder Asafa Powell comfortably won the 100 metres at the London Grand Prix meet at Crystal Palace this evening.
With neither world champion Tyson Gay or world record holder Usain Bolt running, Powell wasn't pushed and won in a time off 9.94 seconds, with Britain's Craig Pickering coming in a disappointing eighth place.
It was a much better night for the rest of the British athletes as Christine Ohuruogu, Phillips Idowu, and Kelly Sotherton all performed well.
Commonwealth champion Ohuruogu led home a British 1-2-3 in the 400 metres as she won the race in 50.80 seconds ahead of Nicola Sanders and Lee McConnell.
Idowu, who is currently ranked the best triple-jumper in the world, jumped an impressive 17.42 metres to put down a firm marker for the Olympics. Fellow Brits Nathan Douglas and Larry Achike finished second and third respectively.
Heptahlete Sotherton jumped a lifetime best long jump of 6.79 metres, but could only manage fourth in the 100 metre hurdles, after the race had to be run twice due to a problem with the hurdles.
Sotherton was happy with her evening's performance and felt she was in good shape for the Olympics.
"I have had so many issues this year with injury and illness so I am delighted to jump a PB like that," she said. "It is exactly where I need to be for the Olympics."