JOIN USSuper Vikas bags gold in Jamaica
Indian discus thrower Vikas Gowda produced another excellent performance to win the gold at the Jamaican International Invitation meet in Kingston on Saturday.
Vikas, the reigning Commonwealth Games champion and silver winner at the 2014 Asian Games, hurled the discus to 65.14 metres, his third effort over the 65M mark in the last three weeks.
The 31-year-old national record holder first came up with a throw of 65.25M at Chula Vista on April 24 to qualify for World Championships in Beijing in August before achieving his season’s best of 65.75M at San Diego two days later.
In Kingston, Chad Wright of Jamaica was second with a throw of 61.84M while Jared Schuurmans of the United States was third at 61.62M.
Former world record-holder Asafa Powell clocked a world leading 9.84 seconds to win the 100M. Jamaica’s Powell finished ahead of American Ryan Bailey, who crossed the line in 9.93, with Jamaican Nesta Carter in third with 9.98.
"I knew after I ran 10.08 into a head wind on a dead track in Guadeloupe that I could run a sub-10 seconds," Powell said.
"I felt easy out there tonight and I am very happy with how I executed my race. The crowd was wonderful and it just shows they appreciate what I do."
Powell improved on the previous 2015 season best of 10.01 set by Trinidad and Tobago's Keston Bledman on April 24 in Gainesville, Florida. It was Powell's fastest 100 metres since a 9.78 at Lausanne in 2011. His personal best is 9.72, clocked in 2008.
Powell benefited from a favorable wind of 1.8 metres per second as well as an electric atmosphere at Kingston's National Stadium.
Bailey stirred up the crowd with a mocking take on six-time Olympic champion Bolt's favourite post-race celebratory pose.
The American was showered with boos as he modified Bolt's gesture, adding his own cut-throat motion.