Asafa Powell rebounds from China woes at British GP race

GATESHEAD, England (AP) — Asafa Powell rebounded from another disappointing Olympics by winning the 100 meters in 9.87 seconds at the British Grand Prix on Sunday.

Powell, the former world record holder in the 100 who finished fifth at the Beijing Games, extended his lead all the way and won by three meters.

“It would have been different in the Olympics if I had run like this,” Powell said. “But the past is the past and this is the present.”

Nesta Carter, Powell’s teammate on Jamaica’s winning 400 relay team at the Olympics, was second in 10.13.

Kenenisa Bekele, who won both the 5,000 and 10,000 in Beijing, turned in the fastest time this year in the 3,000, finishing in 7 minutes, 31.94 seconds. Vivian Cheruiyot did the same in the women’s race, finishing in 8:33.66.

Tyson Gay won the 200 in 20.26, showing no signs of the hamstring problems that bothered him at the U.S. trials and left him out of the Olympic 100 final.

“I am very frustrated and disappointed with what happened in Beijing,” said Gay, who was eliminated in the semifinals and had to watch Usain Bolt’s record-setting performances from the sidelines.

“It was so frustrating having to watch rather than perform,” Gay said. “I know I would have been the man to put pressure on [Bolt], but that’s what I’ve got to work towards now. But I look forward to meeting Usain and finishing my season strongly.”