Olympic 100 meters champion Usain Bolt won the Jamaican title over rival Asafa Powell on Saturday and then declared that American world champion Tyson Gay had little chance of breaking his world record. Bolt, who holds the record with 9.69 seconds set at the Beijing Games last year, ran home in 9.86 against a negative wind here to post the year's fastest non-assisted time. Powell, who was quicker out of the blocks, was second in 9.97 ahead of Michael Frater (10.02). Gay ran a speedy, albeit wind-assisted 9.75 seconds in his first 100m of the season in Oregon on Thursday, and said he could break Bolt's record if he could improve his start. “Personally, no disrespect to Tyson but that is going to be a hard for task for him,” Bolt told reporters. “Tyson is more of a 200 runner than a 100 runner so it is going to be very hard.” Bolt overtook Powell midway through the race and had enough of a lead to finish with some ease in front of a cheering crowd. In the women's 100 meters, Beijing gold medal-winner Shelly-Ann Fraser produced an impressive 10.88 to outpace Kerron Stewart (10.93) with Sheri-Ann Brooks some way back with 11.16. Olympic 100 meters silver medalist Sherone Simpson, in her first race after knee surgery, failed to make it to the finals after finishing fifth in her heat and will not make the worlds squad. In the 400m hurdles, Isa Phillips won the men's event in a world leading 48.05 while Olympic champion Melaine Walker took the women's, edging Kaliese Spencer at 54.70 by .01 of a second. The sprinters are back in action on Sunday for the 200m final. Merritt wins 400m In Oregon, Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt celebrated his 23rd birthday by equalling the fastest 400 meters in the world this year when he clocked 44.50 seconds at the US World Championship trials on Saturday. Gil Roberts took second in 44.93 with 400 hurdles world champion Kerron Clement third in 45.14. Fourth-placed Lionel Larry will likely join Merritt and Roberts on the US 400 meters team for the Berlin world championships with Clement using his wild-card bye in the 400 hurdles. Olympic bronze medalist Sanya Richards won the women's 400m final in 50.05 seconds. Second place went to Debbie Dunn in 50.79 with Jessica Beard claiming the third spot for Berlin in 50.81. Despite the backstretch wind, Lashinda Demus won the women's 400m hurdles final in 53.78 seconds. Olympic silver medalist Sheena Tosta took second in 54.45 seconds. Another Olympic runner-up, David Payne, clocked 13.12sec for victory in the men's 110m hurdles. He edged Terrence Trammell in the same time. Aries Merritt took third in 13.15. Former Olympic and world champion Dwight Phillips dominated the long jump by soaring a wind-assisted 8.57 meters. The trials conclude Sunday.
