Jamaican rules the MCG

The world’s fastest man, Asafa Powell, saved his best for another occasion, but still did enough to wow the crowd and win Commonwealth Games gold in the men’s 100m final tonight at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

He shared in a special night for his country, Jamaica, as the Caribbean nation also celebrated victory in the women’s 100m, courtesy of Sheri-Ann Brooks.

However, it was Powell, the 23-year-old world record holder on the comeback trail from a groin injury, who played the starring role in an electric night at the MCG, watched by 79,000 spectators.

A ridiculously easy winner in the semis, he was made to work for it in the final by Nigeria’s Soji Fasuba and extended himself further than he had in any other previous heats, however, he was still able to ease up in the last 20 metres and record a solid time of 10.03 seconds.

“I really didn’t have to put out anymore effort after 60 metres,” Powell said afterwards.

“The only thing I wanted to do was win, as soon as I knew that I was going to (win), all I had to do was maintain my speed. It was really important for me to win here. It was my first big race after my long lay-off injury and my first major title.”

Fasuba (10.11) was elated with his second place and the silver medal, with Trinidad’s Marc Burns (10.17) taking the bronze.

Australian record holder Patrick Johnson did well to make the final and after a slow start, came home strongly for sixth position in 10.26. His compatriots Joshua Ross and Ambrose Ezenwa didn’t fare as well, falling in the semi-finals.

Earlier, there was more Jamaican joy in the women’s 100m final as Powell’s teammate, Skeri-Ann Brooks shattered her personal best time to capture her own slice of Games gold.

Brooks (11.19) pulled away at the 50m mark and was untroubled in the run to the line, punching the air with extreme satisfaction as she noticed a time that surpassed anything she had been able to achieve previously. South Africa’s Geraldine Pillay was a clear second in 11.31, with Cameroon’s Delphine Atangana (11.39) sneaking away with the bronze.

19-year-old Gold Coast sprinter Sally McLellan did well to make the final but once there, was never a serious factor, falling behind early and ending up a creditable seventh. This was just outside her stated goal of a top five finish, however, the bronze medallist in this event at last year’s junior world championships should be have plenty more opportunities for sprinting glory.

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