Former 100m world record holder, Asafa Powell, was one of two Jamaican winners on Sunday at the Gateshead track meet in London.

In cold and rainy weather, Powell, who ran 9.95 seconds in perfect conditions at the Beijing Olympics for fifth place, ran 9.87 seconds to win very easily. 

“It would have been different in the Olympics if I had run like this,” said Powell. “But the past is the past and this is the present.”

This win underscores the point that his failure to win on the big stage is mental and not physical as he has repeatedly run fast times at one off track meets.

In second place was his compatriot and MVP club member, Nesta Carter, who finished more than two tenths of a second behind with a time of 10.17.  Trinidadian, Marc Burns, was third in 10.16.

In the women’s equivalent, Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser could only manage second as Lauryn Williams of the United States won the event.  Williams crossed the finish line with a time of 11.24 with Fraser a further five-hundredths back at 11.29.  Beijing silver medallist Sherone Simpson was eighth and last with a time of 11.67 seconds.

Williams made it a double by winning the women’s 200m event in 22.65 seconds.  Shericka Williams, Jamaica’s 400m silver medallist from the games in Beijing, finished third in a season’s best of 22.80.  Splitting the two was Bahamian Debbie Ferguson who stopped the clock at 22.73 seconds.

Jamaica’s other winner at the meet was Malaine Walker, the Olympic 400m hurdles champion and record holder.  She was timed in 54.51 seconds as she easily won ahead of Poland’s Anna Jesien, 55.35.  Home girl Tasha Danvers was third in 55.61.

In the men’s race, Markino Buckley, came home in third position with a time of 50.04.  Winning the event was Marek Plawgo of Poland in 49.07.  Bershawn Jackson, 49.11, of the United States was third.

Kaliese Spencer finished fourth in the women’s 400m as Christine Ohuruogu followed up her Olympic win with victory in 51.27 seconds.  American Mary Wineberg, 51.44, and Briton Nicola Sanders, 51.79, were second and third respectively.  Spencer’s time was 51.88 seconds.