Jamaica's Asafa Powell ... aiming for Melbourne Grand Prix meet on Thursday. - File SYDNEY, Australia (AP):WORLD 100-METRE record holder Asafa Powell will have his stitches removed in Sydney today and return to training tomorrow as he prepares for Thursday's Grand Prix meet in Melbourne.The Jamaican runner was scheduled to compete in Sydney yesterday but fell on the stairs while rushing to get to training before arriving in Australia, sustaining a cut on his left knee which required four stitches.A decision on whether Powell will run in Melbourne will be made after he has begun training."The doctor's going to take the stitches out this evening," Powell said yesterday. "I'll give it a day and then maybe on Monday I'll try doing some jogging or something."I'm not really missing much in training, it's an easy week. If I can run, I will do it. The decision will be made when I do some practice."In Powell's absence yesterday, Australian Matt Shirvington was the surprise winner of the 100m after a photo finish with World Championships silver medallist Darrel Brown of Trinidad and Tobago.given the win
Both sprinters finished in a time of 10.43, but Shirvington was given the win on the line after a review.Powell admitted it was difficult watching from the stands, but was hopeful of being fit for Thursday."Always. Whenever I'm not running I always want to be out there," Powell said.Meanwhile, Australian Daniel Batman beat American Jeremy Wariner in the 200m at Sydney's Olympic Park.Batman led from the start and held on to win in a time of 20.81 seconds, with Wariner second in 20.93. Wariner is the world and Olympic champion in the 400.Wariner wasn't concerned at being beaten."This is really just a tune-up race for me to see where I'm at with my training and what I need to work on," Wariner said."I've got a lot of improvement to do. It's early in my season, it's only February, Olympics aren't until August. I knew (Batman) was a good runner."Wariner will run the 400m at a Grand Prix event in Melbourne.
