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Powell cruises to victory at Penn Relays

PHILADELPHIA – World record holder Asafa Powell cruised to victory in the 100 metres at the Penn Relays athletics meet, winning in a time of 10.10 seconds.

The Jamaican speedster easily beat Rodney Martin (10.24) who just edged out Anthony Buchanan (10.25) for second place at the Franklin Field track.

“Im getting there. I’m almost there. I need a few more competitions,” said Powell, who ran a 10.03 earlier this year.

Powell was a late addition to the meet as organizers didn’t confirm his participation until Friday.

“I wanted to run the relays,” Powell said. “The track is different here. I didn’t want to open myself up to injury by running a relay.

“It’s really exciting to come here and run knowing that there is a Jamaican crowd. On the circuit you dont really have that.”

Asked if he hopes to race against Olympic gold medallist Justin Gatlin soon, Powell said: “A lot of people would like to see me and Justin go up against each other.”

Gatlin said at the Mount San Antonio College Relays earlier this month that he can’t wait to face Powell.

“I would race him every day if I could,” Gatlin said.

Powell earned the world’s fastest man title last year in Athens when he broke the 100m record with a time of 9.77. He finished fifth at the 2004 Olympics which was won by Gatlin.

Last month, Powell won the gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

It is the second time Powell has run at the Penn Relays. He raced for Jamaica in the 4x200m relay in 2003. (AFP)

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