Jamaica’s new sensation Elaine Thompson (10.97 secs), Asafa Powell (9.84 secs) dominate 100m at JII meet at National Stadium

BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, May 10, 2015    

Jamaica’s new sensation Elaine Thompson (left) approaches
 the finish line in front in the women’s 100m at the JII meet
inside the National Stadium last night. Thompson won ahead of
 Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare (second left), and American
 Allyson Felix (right). Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart is second
 right. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS)

FORMER world record holder Asafa Powell restored pride to the Jamaican camp with a world-leading 9.84 seconds in the 100m in silencing a strong field including American Ryan Bailey, while newcomer Elaine Thompson proved to be 'The Real McCoy' in winning the 100m in 10.97 seconds at the Jamaica Invitational International Meet at the National Stadium last night.

Spurred on by a large crowd, Powell brought the house down in making a grand return to competitive action on local soil. He left the blocks like a bullet, kept his form well and powered home in 9.84 seconds, the 84th time he has dipped below the 10-second barrier.

But, more importantly, he defeated Bailey, who felt the wrath of the Jamaican public for his 'throat-cutting' gesture toward Usain Bolt after anchoring the US to victory in the 4x100m at the IAAF World Relays in The Bahamas last week.

Bailey, who was booed throughout despite a concerted effort to win over the crowd, clocked 9.93 seconds to finish second ahead of Nesta Carter in 9.98 seconds. Jamaica's Andrew Fisher was fourth in a personal best of 10.01 seconds.

Thompson, who had the world-leading time of 10.92 seconds done at the UTech Classic a few weeks ago, showed that she will be a force to be reckoned with in the 100m, beating a world-class field in 10.97 seconds.

Former world recond holder Asafa Powell (right) crosses the
 finish line to win the men’s 100m in 9.84 seconds ahead of
American Ryan Bailey (left) and Nesta Carter (centre).
(PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS)

Thompson, 22, the training partner of sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, wasn't the best away but recovered well and led Commonwealth Games champion Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria and American star Allyson Felix at the half-way mark before impressively pulling away for a comfortable win. Okagbare was second in 11.06 seconds with Felix third in 11.18 seconds.

In arguably the performance of the meet, the emerging American Jasmin Stowers threw down the gauntlet in the 100m hurdles with a magnificent 12.39sec clocking in establishing a new meet record, lowering her world-leading mark set two weeks ago by .01 seconds. Stowers was miles clear of the Jamaican sister pair of Danielle Williams (12.77) and Shermaine Williams (12.89). more