A strong headwind slowed Asafa Powell at the Rieti Grand Prix Sunday, with the Jamaican still clocking an impressive 9.99 seconds on the track where he set a then-world record of 9.74 two years ago. Powell was hoping to improve on his season best of 9.84 that got him third at last month's world championships in Berlin, when Usain Bolt set the current world record of 9.58. Powell's fellow Jamaican and training partner Nesta Carter was the runner-up in 10.08 and Simeon Williamson of Britain crossed third in 10.18. The wind registered minus 1.5 meters. Powell believes he can still challenge Bolt. “To be running these fast times is outstanding. He really needs some strong competition - he's running 9.5 - so we need to get there too to put on a good show,” Powell said. “Before, I was the man to beat. Now I have someone in front of me, so I really have to push myself.” Another member of Powell's training group, Olympic and recently crowned world champion Shelly Ann Fraser, won the women's 100 in 11.18 - into a headwind of 2.4. Olympic silver medalist Sherone Simpson was the runner-up in 11.37 and Gloria Asumnu of the United States was third in 11.52. Kerron Stewart, the Olympic and world silver medalist in the 100, won the 200 in 22.62, with Berlin 400 runner-up Shericka Williams crossing second in 22.69. American sprinter Wallace Spearmon won the men's 200 in 20.27 after placing sixth in the 100. There was a noteworthy performance in the 800m by David Rudisha. In perhaps the outstanding performance of the night, the Kenyan clocked 1:42.01 to break Sammy Koskei's 25-year-old African record of 1:42.28 and register the best performance of the year. Berlin runner-up Alfred Kirwa Yego was again second, in 1:42.67, and world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi crossed third in 1:42.86. The entire Berlin podium was also on hand in the women's 1,500 and the top two places swapped hands with Britain's Lisa Dobriskey passing world champion Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain two strides before the finish - winning in 4:01.23.
