CARSON (California): Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin said on Saturday he wasn't surprised by Asafa Powell's world record of 9.77 but that doesn't mean he's convinced the Jamaican can beat him at the World Championships in August.
“I think everybody saw he was going to be fast,” Gatlin said after winning the 100m at the US championships to book his 100m berth at the worlds in Helsinki. Powell set the world record in Athens on June 14.
“I saw it coming,” Gatlin said, but added Powell's brilliance in the one-race format of the Grand Prix series might not stand up to the gruelling rounds required to win a world title.
“I can't go out and say the guy can't run rounds, because he made the (Olympic) final,” Gatlin said.
“He's probably the best athlete there is when it comes to going out there and running once, and that makes him very dangerous on the circuit. You've got to put that together for four rounds.”
Meanwhile, Powell booked his trip to the world meet by capturing the 100m crown on Saturday at the Jamaican Championships.
Powell won in 10.04 with Michael Frater second in 10.05 and Dwight Thomas claiming the last Helsinki spot in 10.08.
Veronica Campbell captured the Jamaican women's 100m crown in 10.97, the same time as runner-up Sherone Simpson. Aleen Bailey was third in 11.18. – AFP