Powell withdraws from Mt SAC

16 April 2007




My knee has been a bit tender in training

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WALNUT, California — Asafa Powell, the 100m world record-holder from
Jamaica, withdrew from from the 4x100m relay at the Mt. SAC Relays
Sunday to protect a sore right knee.


"I'm sad, but it was a little too cold for me," Powell told the crowd
at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the campus of Mount San Antonio College,
east of Los Angeles.


"Although my knee has been a bit tender in training, I felt confident
I would be able to run today."


Powell, 24, said his decision was just a precaution, and he didn't
expect his preparations for the athletics world championships in
Osaka in August to be disrupted.


Powell, who equalled his world record of 9.77sec twice last season,
was the meeting's marquee name. He is next slated to run on April 28
at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.


Chris Williams flew the flag for Jamaica with a victory in the men's
100m in 10.12sec.


And Jamaican Melaine Walker won the women's 400m hurdles in 55.99sec,
fastest time of the young 2007 season. Shauna Smith of the United
States was second in 56.55.


American Joanna Hayes, who won the 100m hurdles gold at the 2004
Olympics, was third in 56.56.


Athens Olympic long jump gold medallist Dwight Phillips easily won
his signature event with a jump of 8.15m, and said his goal this year
is to capture a third world title in the discipline.


Allyson Felix, the 2004 Olympic 200m silver medallist and 2005 200m
world champion, won the women's 400m in 51.74sec.


China's Gao ShuYing won the women's pole vault with an Asian record
of 4.55m.


"It's a real surprise," said Gao, who was feeling the effects of a
cold. "I just wanted to make a normal jump."


AFP