Athletics: Asafa Powell fires warning to absent Usain Bolt

ASAFA Powell warned Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay there is plenty more to come after starting his 100 metre season with a bang at the inaugural IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha.

The Jamaican former world record holder clocked a wind-aided 9.75seconds at the Qatar Sports Club.

That run came in his heat, before he overcame a poor start – he said he was not settled when the gun went – to win the final in a windy 9.81s.

Although the hefty following wind means the times will not go in the record books, the two runs would have sent a message to Bolt and Gay – the only two men in history to have run faster than Powell – that he means business this year.

"It means I'm in shape and to run this time at the beginning of the season means there are better things to come," said the 27-year-old, who insisted before the race he remained confident he could better Bolt's world record of 9.58.

"I did very well so the next race should be a lot better.

"This is the first time that the three of us are healthy and strong, so we'll see how it goes.

"I'm sure the others are making sure that they are ready and after what happened (last night] I think they're pretty excited about us meeting up."

Powell's 9.75 run was backed by a following wind of 2.6m per second, but he warned against putting to much stock by that statistic.

"Normally the wind doesn't help me that much," he said.

The Jamaican, whose next race is in Ostrava in the Czech Republic, was one of five runners to go under 10s in the final.

Another Jamaican, Nesta Carter, was second in 9.88 and American Travis Padgett third in 9.92. And Jamaica's strength in depth in the event was clear was two more of Powell's compatriots, Michael Frater and Lerone Clarke, were fourth and fifth in 9.94 and 9.98 respectively.

And Powell admitted that, even without Bolt and Gay in the race, he could not afford to take victory for granted.

"The 100m is really getting exciting," he said. "There were some really good times. Michael Frater and Nesta Carter really did well.

"It should be pretty interesting. Every race is not going to be as easy as people think it's going to be.

"But I'm ready to roll."

Further success for Jamaica came in the women's 200, Kerron Stewart, whose 22.34 seconds was also helped by the wind, beating compatriot Sherone Simpson (22.64). Cydie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands was third.