Powell, Simpson win 400m

Members Area In the News
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heh, heh, heh, :stuck_out_tongue:

Jamaica’s Asafa Powell, the 100m world record-holder, won his 400m heat on Saturday but finished only fourth overall in his 2007 season debut at the Grace Jackson Invitational Track Meet.
Powell, who ran in heat one of the 400m time-final event, was clocked in 47.46 seconds.

He went out fast in the first 200m and led the field into the straightaway, but struggled against the wind in the last few metres.

“It was a pretty good race,” Powell said. “I went out as planned, but I did not finish as I wanted to, because when I got into the straight the wind was too strong.”

In the overall results, Powell was fourth behind Chumaie Fitten’s winning time of 46.60.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Darrell Brown, who took 100m silver at the 2003 World Championships, finished in 50.08 in heat four ahead of 2005 world 100m runner-up Michael Frater, who was clocked in 50.40.

Sherone Simpson, the fastest woman in the world last season, topped the women’s 400m field in 53.40 seconds ahead of teammates Brigitte Foster-Hylton in 54.44 and Nyoka Cole 55.01.

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I sure as hope they were only cruising those 400’s because, 100m specialist’s or not, those times (particularly frater and brown) are absolute rubbish. Even with pathetic speed endurance or SE2 or whatever you gotta break 50 if your even trying at all being a sub 10 sprinter.

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THIS REPORT & PIX FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE JAMAICA OBSERVER

World watches as J’can stars shine on debut

BY KAYON RAYNOR Observer staff reporter
Sunday, January 28, 2007

WORLD 100-metre record-holder Asafa Powell and top female sprinter Sherone Simpson began their season with a bang yesterday, returning impressive times in the 400-metre at the Queen’s/Grace Jackson meet at the Stadium East field in Kingston.

Observed by five international media outlets - three television crews from Switzerland, Norway and the UK (Gillette World Sports) and two print teams from Japan and The Netherlands - Powell clocked a personal best 47.67 seconds to win his heat of the men’s open 400-metres.
That time shaved 0.53 of a second off the 48.20secs he did last year before going on to run 12 sub-10-second clockings in the 100 metres, including two world record-equalling 9.77secs.

World 100m record-holder Asafa Powell (left) winning his men’s open 400m heat ahead of Alonzo Barrett (centre) and Paul Bogle in windy conditions at the Queens/Grace Jackson meet at the Stadium East yesterday. Powell clocked a personal best 47.67secs. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Conceding that he wanted to complete the quarter-mile in an even faster time, Powell told the Sunday Observer yesterday’s run was an indicator of things to come this year.
“This is a good sign for the 200 metres even though I don’t really like it as much,” he said. “The plans for the 100-metre really is just a lot of fireworks,” Powell stated.

Powell’s time was fourth overall on the day behind Mario Foresight (47.42), Chumaine Fitten (47.60) and Leeford Green (47.61).
Simpson posted 53.40 seconds to top the women’s 400-metre open ahead of MVP teammates Brigitte Foster-Hilton (54.44) and Nyoka Cole (55.01).
The Commonwealth 200-metre champion, who ran seven sub-11-second clockings in the 100m last season, is anticipating even better things in 2007.

“Running this 400 will definitely help me in the 100 and 200 as I look forward to the World Championships in Osaka (Japan)… I’m going there to medal in the 100, 200 and also the 4x100… I’m working very hard, so I’m looking forward to that,” Simpson said.

World No 1-ranked 100m ace Sherone Simpson (left) romps the women’s 400m Open ahead of MVP teammate Brigitte Foster-Hylton (right) at the Queens/Grace Jackson meet at the Stadium East field yesterday. Simpson clocked 53.40secs to hurdles specialist Foster-Hylton, 54.44secs. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Head coach of the MVP Track Club Stephen Francis told the Sunday Observer he was impressed with the majority of his athletes’ performances.
“It went well… I think the kind of results that we’ve seen here reflects the kind of training the guys are doing, so overall I’m very satisfied,” Francis said.

South African sprinter Geraldine Pillay, British high jumper Germaine Mason, Trinidad sprinter Darrel Brown, world 100-metre silver medallist Michael Frater, among other MVP athletes, contested the 400 metres.
Meanwhile, three records were broken at the meet.

World junior 400-metre hurdles gold medallist Kaliese Spencer of UTech returned 2 minutes 06.30 seconds to erase Nyoshe Mills’ mark of 2 minutes 27.24sec done last year to top the women’s 800 metres open.
Evan Allen clocked 1 minute 51.35 seconds to break his own mark of 1 minute 53.16secs done last year, while world junior 200-metre finalist Anastasia Leroy returned 54.29 seconds to shave 0.99 of a second off her own mark of 55.28, established in 2006.

The local track and field season resumes on February 3 with two events - the JAAA/Puma Develpment Meet at Jamalco, Clarendon, and the Youngster Goldsmith Invitational at Stadium East.

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ASAFA’S 400M AGONY :stuck_out_tongue:

Powell and Simpson give impressive displays at 400m
Sunday 28 January 2007
Kingston, Jamaica - Asafa Powell, male World Athlete of the Year and Sherone Simpson, the fastest women’s sprinter in 2006, launched their 2007 competitive programme at 7th annual edition of The Queen’s/Grace Jackson Invitational held at the National Stadium east complex on Saturday (27).

Powell, the World 100m record holder opened up with a 46.67 seconds run in the men’s 400m, while Simpson won the women’s one lap sprint in 53.40.

However, despite crossing the line first in his heat (one), Powell had to settle for fourth overall as his MVP training partner Mario Forsythe (47.42), Chumaine Fitten (47.60) and Leford Green (47.61) produced fastest times in their heats.

Powell, who went out hard and had the field covered by the time he reached the backstretch, found things more challenging with the strong head wind.

“I went out as planned, but I did not finish as I wanted to, because when I got into the straight the wind was too strong…. It was my aim to run 46 or 47 seconds, so I am happy with the end result,” confirmed Powell.

While admitting he don’t like the 400m event, Powell said he was happy to follow coach Stephen Francis’ instructions because it’s part of the strength building programme ahead of the summer’s target of the World Championships in Osaka.

"Last season I ran a lot of over distance races and I finished the season a lot stronger, so I guest the stronger I am is the better for me….”

Brown, satisfied - Frater, delighted

Meanwhile, two other potential medal contenders in Osaka, Trinidad & Tobago’s Darrell Brown (50.08) and Jamaica’s Michael Frater (50.40), respectively the 2003 and the 2005 World Championship 100m silver medallist, both ran in heat four.

Brown, who was running his very first 400m, said: “It wasn’t as difficult as I thought, but it was a pretty tough race. First 400 ever, I found it to be a pretty good time, although I wanted to run at least 49, but I will take 50 for now,” Brown added.

As for Frater, “I think I could run a lot faster today, but I don’t know how to run a 400. I just went out there and tried to do something,” said Frater who was delighted with his time, a personal best.

Hard and difficult run for Simpson

On the women’s side, Sherone Simpson, the fastest woman in the world last season at 100m and 200m, won the women’s 400m in 53.40 seconds. She finished ahead of team-mates Brigitte Foster-Hylton (54.44), who is a strong contender for the 100m Hurdles gold in Osaka, and Nyoka Cole (55.01).

“I was a very hard race, that’s what I can say about that race,” Simpson said. "It was difficult to run the entire 400m.”

Foster-Hylton, the 2003 World silver and 2005 bronze medallist at 100m Hurdles, who challenged Simpson right up to the last few metres, said: “the 400m is something I never really look forward to … but it’s part of my programme and I did it because I have to do it”.

South African Geraldine Pillay, the Commonwealth Games 100m and 200m silver and bronze medallist respectively, finished seventh with 57.13.

“I am very happy that it is over,” said Pillay, who said she was nervous going into her very first 400m. "I wasn’t as bad as anticipated I guest, my nerves really got hold of me, but once I started running, it was kind of fun, but I don’t think I will do this every Saturday.”

In the 200m sprint, Aleen Bailey, a member of Jamaica’s sprint relay gold medal team at the Athens Olympics, won the 200m event in 23.65 seconds.

World Junior 400m Hurdles champion Kalise Spencer, also from the MVP group, won the women’s 800m in 2:06.30 while Shericka Williams was sixth in 2:19.17.

Anthony Foster for the IAAF