Asafa Powell opened his 2012 season with an impressive win after taking the men’s 50m dash at the US Open at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Fellow Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown blasted to 6.08 seconds to win the women’s 50m dash as well on the night.
Powell, using the indoor season to gear up for the Olympic Games in London later this summer, ran 5.64 second for first place, getting home ahead of training partner Nesta Carter, who ran 5.67 and Trell Kimmons of USA who ran 5.68.
American Justin Gatlin was fourth in 5.71, while Kimmari Roach of Jamaica ran 5.74 for fifth and Antigua’s Daniel Bailey, who trains with Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, was sixth in 5.75.
Campbell-Brown, the reigning World Indoor 60m champions defeated American talented sprinter Jessica Young, who ran 6.20 and Gloria Asumnu of Nigeria (6.22).
In the men’s 50m hurdles, Terrence Trammell beat favourite and fellow American David Oliver to the finishing line.
Trammell, a former World Indoor champion, ran 6.45secs for first place, beating Oliver, who ran 6.50 and Omo Osaghae (6.52).
In the women’s race, USA’s Lolo Jones clocked 6.78secs for first. She got home ahead of Tiffany Porter of Great Britain who ran 6.83 and American Kellie Wells 6.84.
Silas Kiplagat handed Bernard Lagat a defeat in the men’s Mile.
The Kenyan Kiplagat, a silver medalist in the 1,500 metres at the world championships last summer, moved past Lagat during the last lap to win the event in 4 minutes, 0.65 seconds.
Lagat, who won the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games for a record eight times, finished second to Kiplagat in 4:00.92. Third place went to another Kenyan, Daniel K Komen, who finished at 4:03.82.
Despite the defeat, Lagat was still happy about how his training for the 5,000m has been going.
“I feel like I was strong the entire way,” he said. “The thing I take from this is I’m really ready now.”
Elsewhere, world champion Jesse Williams won the men’s High Jump in 2.29m, beating Dusty Jonas, who cleared 2.25m. Ryan Whiting took the men’s Shot Put with a last round throw of 21.16m. Christian Cantwell of USA was second with 20.72m.
Just curious as to why the womens 500 yard race was not televised or anything on line pertaining to this event.
Thanks
How can this be cdsrioened an American Record? There was no other runners in the race besides his pace setters. This was a personal time trial, not a legitimate race.Many times you hear where field event athletes throw and jump "record" attempts in practices, based on calling this an American Record, they should submit their performances as records as well. If I read the results, it was part of a high school meet, don't records like this have to have some type of criteria for the level of competition of the meet? The same goes for Verzbicas race, he had his own personal pace setting and no other HS runners were in the race. The folks who rank these records do not count Dave Merrick's 8:42.2 two mile because it was on an oversized track because that was an "advantage", how is having your own personal pace setter not a bigger advantage?