Hey "Coach D", I'll say it AGAIN:
"I stand by what I said, and what I have said in the past. Under neutral conditions, he averages out to a 9.85 guy."
An average top-tier performance for Powell, and nothing more, was run in Rome.
And NO, he didn't let up, at all.
Yes, he would have had a better time if he had a decent reaction time. His was .214, basically the slowest in the race, and crap at that level (although 5 of the 9 runners were over .200)
I think the race gave some reason for hope, though. Even though he ran the same time he usually does, he seemed to do it in a different way.
It looked like he was trying to increase turnover at about 70m, and his arm action seemed to change, very briefly. It then started to spin away from him a bit, but he reeled it in, until he had to lean back at 90m to preserve his high knee lift at top speed.
As long as he runs with his current form, it will ALWAYS spin away from him if he increases his turnover. He needs to have top-end form like Gay or Bolt to accommodate that turnover.
Or, if he wants to preserve his leg swing range relative to the ground at top speed, maybe he can master leaning back, so that his leg swing range relative to his torso changes, which is biomechanically what is really the important thing.
But hey, at least he does seem to have the required turnover! With a bit of tweaking (i.e. COACHING), he could be up there with Gay and Bolt this year.
Really, this could be his year.
His 9.78 in Rieti was a nicer race, but way later in the season, I think.
Take his start/drive from Oslo, tack on a last half that actually involves turnover, and voila! An honest high 9.6 to low 9.7.
Not 9.58, but there's no reason to think that Bolt is in 9.58 shape this year.