Powell, Simpson top of their world

[Karl]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Powell, Simpson top of their world</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline>Campbell, Bolt still a factor</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>Paul Burrowes, Observer writer
Saturday, September 02, 2006
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=165 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>POWELL ... ran the 100-metre world record of 9.77 seconds three times </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Has there ever been a time in Jamaica's track and field history when two sprinters dominate the men's and women's short sprints at the same time? And by the same coach?<P class=StoryText align=justify>When has there been in the country's history an Olympic champion that seems not to be held in high esteem? At least not as highly regarded as a younger challenger who, no doubt, is at the top of her game but with hardly a better record.[/B]<P class=StoryText align=justify>When has there been in a nation's past that a super-gifted young sprinter who holds the World Junior record and who has lowered his personal best this season as a senior appears to be fighting a lone, physical battle?
Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson have laid down the law in the 100 metres, the Commonwealth Games champions being tagged as the ones to beat, after the fall of Olympic and World Champion Justin Gatlin of the USA and his drug-haunted compatriot Marion Jones.<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=189 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>SIMPSON ... has become the second fastest Jamaican woman ever in the 100 metres </SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>Simpson has tamed Jones, while Powell has intimidated Gatlin and the Stephen Francis-conditioned athletes are expected to stand tall in any 100 metres they run for the rest of the year.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Powell has become the first man to run under 10 seconds more than nine times this year - the 23-year-old doing so 10 times this season - and he seems set for another Jamaican first in the Golden League and the US$1-million jackpot.
Gatlin lost only two times in 14 meetings last year, while Powell, from the latest estimates, is 13 from 13 races so far this season.<P class=StoryText align=justify>And Simpson, by outrunning 'big horse' Jones in her allegedly drug-boosted condition, has come of age and the 22-year-old's progress has been remarkable.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Powell has established himself as the fastest man on the planet, running the 100-metre world record of 9.77 seconds three times; and in the 200 metres which he occasionally runs, his 19.90 seconds makes him the 25th fastest ever in the world and third quickest Jamaican in the half-lap event.<P class=StoryText align=justify>For her part, Simpson has become the second fastest Jamaican woman ever in the 100 metres when she ran 10.82 seconds on June 24 this year - only Merlene Ottey (10.74) has run better - and fourth fastest Jamaican woman in the 200 metres when she posted 22.00 seconds on June 25, also of this year.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Track and field records show that in the 1980s Ottey and Raymond Stewart were Jamaica's top sprinters and in the year 1989 Track and Field News ranked them as the world's number one sprinters in the 100m.<P class=StoryText align=justify>So far in 2006, the world governing body for track and field, IAAF, has Powell and Simpson ranked as the number one athletes in the world in the 100m and they could remain tops at the end of the year - and Track and Fi

[JamBoy]

RE: Powell, Simpson top of their world

Think about this! Little Jamaica would destroy all most all the nations in the world if placed in a track &amp; field contest. They would win the mens 100 against all nations in the world. They would win the womens 100 against all nations in the world. They would win the mens 200 against all except the US andwhen Eusane Bolt is ready he will be the best. They would win the womens 200 against every one in the world (possible the US) might win.

They would place in the mens and womens 400 (behind US and Russia). They would place in the womens 800 and mile, no placements in the mens 800 or mile. They would place in the mens long jump, the womens triple jump, possibly place in the mens shot put, and possibly place in the womens javelin. But we would win the womens 4+100 relay and place third in the 1+400, possibly win or second in the mens 4+100 possibly win or second in the 1+400. Thats large, thats massive, bigup to all our fantastic athletes. Love and respect.