KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Sprint star Asafa Powell won a close 100 metres at the National Stadium here Friday night to book his spot at the World Championships in South Korea later this year.
The 28-year-old, who is yet to win a major title, powered to the finish in a time of 10.08 seconds to claim the marquee event on the second night of the National Senior Championships.
Yohan Blake was second in 10.09 seconds while Steve Mullings claimed third in 10.10 seconds.
All three runners, along with defending World champion Usain Bolt, will represent Jamaica in the 100 metres at the showpiece in Daegu that runs from August 27 to September 4.
Olympic 200 metres champion Veronica Campbell-Brown also secured her place at the world games when she easily won the women’s 100 metres.
Campbell-Brown was timed at 10.84 seconds, with Olympic silver medallist Kerron Stewart finishing second in 10.97 seconds and 20-year-old Vere Technical and South Plains College star Jura Levy taking third in 11.10.
The marquee event of the night, however, was the men’s 100 metres. With Bolt handed an exception as the defending World champion, it left Powell as the favourite in the event.
He was off to a bad start but recovered well enough to nip Blake at the line in a close finish and it took several replays before officials finally determined the winner.
Powell had earlier clocked 9.90 seconds to win his semi-final ahead of Nesta Carter (9.98) and Dexter Lee (10.13).
Mullings, who ran 9.80 earlier this month in Oregon, United States, captured the first semi-final in 9.96 seconds to hold off Blake (9.97) and Michael Frater (9.98).
Meanwhile, Leford Green produced a time of 49.19 seconds to make a successful defence of his 400m hurdles title while Nicholas Thomas took the triple jump with a leap of 16.12 metres.
