| Giving it a whirl - Dani on course for Delhi as Asafa fires |
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By JESSICA HALLORAN The Sunday Telegraph May 16, 2010 THERE was a silver lining for world discus champion Dani Samuels, while former world record holder Asafa Powell sent a message to Usain Bolt at the inaugural IAAF Diamond League meet in Doha. Powell, powered by a gusting wind, won the 100m in 9.81sec in the opening leg of the 14-meet competition that replaces the Golden League. The third-fastest man in history and the world championship bronze medallist, Powell finished ahead of fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter (9.88sec). Samuels opened her international season with a throw of 64.67m that put her in the lead until the final round. She said she was "bummed'' when beaten by world championships silver medallist Yarelis Barrios of Cuba with 64.90m. In the Diamond League, competitors are restricted to just four throws. "It was really different, you really have that feeling that it's a big meet and it feels like the world athletics final every single time,'' Samuels said. "We only got four throws, which was something different, but I'm pretty happy overall with how I went. I'm a bit bummed to get pipped in the second last round, but I'm very happy. "I got two throws over 64m and my foul was decent, too, it just went out of the sector. "I wanted to throw 64m and I did. That's what I've been trying to build on because hopefully if I can be consistent at 64m-plus every time I throw, by the time the Commonwealth Games come around I should be in for a personal best. That's why it's important that I start trying to do that now.'' Powell, desperate to launch an assault on Bolt's world record of 9.58sec, clocked 9.75sec in the heats. "I'm satisfied as it's my first 100m of the season. Sadly, it was with the wind,'' Powell said. "In any case, I have rarely started my season so well. For the world record, I'm going to take it step by step and if it happens, so much the better.'' It wasn't Powell's most technically attractive race, with the windy conditions compounded by sand swirling across the stadium. "The starter was quick and I got away badly. I also wanted to work on two or three things. The first race in the evening was better, especially in terms of the start,'' Powell said. This first Diamond League meet offered up nine season-best performances. They included Americans Christian Cantwell (shot put) and Allyson Felix (400m) as well as Kenyans Ezekiel Kemboi (3000m steeplechase) and Nancy Langat (1500m). The next round of the Diamond League is in Shanghai on May 23, where Bolt will run in the 200m, four days after a 100m in Daegu. |