Athletics: Powell powers home on seasonal debut Tue May 29, 4:29 PM ET



Jamaica's 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell impressed on
his opening race of the season here on Tuesday winning in a time of
9.97 seconds to record the first time ever under 10sec in Serbia.

Powell, who has been off injured for several weeks with tendinitis in
his right knee, easily beat home the Dutch Antilles Churandi Martina,
who timed 10.11sec, while another Jamaican Michael Frater was third
in 10.19sec.

Powell was extremely relaxed and after the race saluted the record
20,000 spectators who turned up to see the Commonwealth champion
become the first athlete this season to run under 10sec.

"I was under pressure because it was my first race of the season,"
admitted Powell.

"However I am happy with my performance. The weather was superb and
it was an extremely well organised event.

"To date my season has been disturbed....but I am feeling very
relaxed and hungry for more competition."

Powell will next race at the meeting in Eugene, Oregon, on June 10,
probably over 200m, before returning to Europe for the first Golden
League meeting in Oslo on June 15.

Powell's compatriot Sherone Simpson, the fastest woman in the world
last season, was also set to make her debut but had to pull out
during the warm-up with a painful thigh.

In her absence Bulgarian Yvet Lalova prevailed in her first 100m in
two years after being out with a serious knee injury.

America's 2000 Olympics 400m hurdles champion Angelo Taylor showed he
is no slack performer over the flat 400m as he strolled home in
another time under 45sec, 44.98.

Kenya's Moses Maisai put in another noteworthy performance on the
night timing the best mark of the season for the 5,000m of 13min
08.81sec.