Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport

Asafa Powell runs during the 100 metres heats at the senior National Track and Field Athletics Championships at the National Stadium last night. Powell won in 9.90 seconds (left) and Usain Bolt eases across the finish line as he wins the first 100 metres heat at the senior National Track and Field Athletics Championships at the National Stadium last night. Bolt won in 10.19 seconds (right). - Photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

FORMER world record holder and defending national champion, Asafa Powell, signalled yesterday that he will be gunning to retain his title after clocking a season best 9.90 seconds in the heats of the men's 100 metres at the Senior National Track and Field Athletics Cham-pionships, on the opening evening of the three-day meet at the National Stadium.

Powell, dogged by injury for most of the current season, led all qualifiers for today's semi-finals as he came home well clear of Winston Barnes, who was second in 10.30.

World record holder Usain Bolt had earlier jogged home in 10.19 in the first heat, beating Mario Forsythe, 10.54.

Both Bolt and Powell were conservative in their comments after their races.

"I will do whatever it takes to qualify for the Olympic Games," Powell said.

"I am feeling good. I was just running to qualify and taking it round by round," were Bolt's comments.

It will be a two-horse race in the final. The other leading qualifiers had far inferior times. Michael Frater took heat five in 10.20 and Michael Anderson was the winner of heat six in 10.26.

Kerron Stewart led the way in the very competitive women's 100 metres heats. She dipped below 11 seconds to win heat three in 10.99, just holding off a determined Shelly-Ann Fraser. Fraser of the MVP Track Club crossed the line in a personal best 11.02, while Sherone Simpson was third in 11.11.

Samantha Henry also registered a personal best 11.16 in heat two. She literally streaked away from the field halfway out to win ahead of Sheri-Ann Brooks, 11.26, and Simone Facey, 11.34.

Veronica easy

World champion Veronica Campbell-Brown looked extremely easy while winning heat one in 11.28, beating Nickesha Anderson, 11.33 and Aleen Bailey, also 11.33.

World Championships repre-sentative, Isa Phillips, clocked a season best 48.78 seconds to lead all qualifiers into today's final of the men's 400 metres hurdles. Phillips won the first of two heats ahead of the veteran Danny McFarlane, second in 49.54. Another veteran, Ian Weakley, was third in 50.08.

Heat Two went to local-based Markino Buckley of the MVP Track Club in 49.21, just outside his season best. Adrian Findlay, a member of Jamaica's team which placed second in the 4x400m at this year's World Indoor Cham-pionships, was second in 49.96, while Bryan Steele took third in 50.09. Dean Griffith 50.27 and Andre Peart, 53.16, also qualified for the final.

In three finals contested yesterday, Phelecia Reynolds of Louisianna Technical won the women's discus with a best throw of 45.15 to beat Genneva Greaves of MVP and Kenisha Throughsingh, who was third with 40.55m.

Defending champion Chelsea Hammond won the women's long jump with a best of 6.61 metres. Jovanee Jarrett was second with 6.52m and Nolle Graham third, 6.49m.

Floyd Mayne captured the 5000 metres in 15:19.12 from Rupert Green, 16.26.37 and Andrew Gutzmore, 16.40.12.