Jamaica celebrates sprint double in NY

NEW YORK - Reuters

Asafa Powell started the new track and field season on a high note with his victory at the Madison Square Garden.

Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell-Brown completed a Jamaican sprint double at the U.S. Open indoor meet at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 28.

There were no Olympic gold medals on offer but it was an ominous reminder ahead of this year’s London Games of the unrivalled strength of Jamaica’s crack sprinters. Powell, almost the forgotten man of Jamaican sprinting because of the achievements of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, lunged at the line to win the 50 metre dash in 5.67 seconds, the fastest time in a decade for the rarely-run event.

“It was weird but it was a pretty good time for my first race of the season,” said Powell. “There’s bigger races ahead but that’s a good way to begin.”

Campbell-Brown, who won the 200m gold at the last two Olympics and was part of the Jamaican relay that won in Beijing, burst out of the blocks and held on to win the women’s 50m dash in 6.08. “It’s a step in the right direction,” she said. “Each race is a preparation for what’s to come this season.”

The U.S. won the men’s and women’s hurdles with Terrence Trammell and Lolo Jones.