MELBOURNE: Jamaican former 100m world record-holder Asafa Powell has withdrawn from Australia’s Stawell Gift with a hamstring injury, race organisers said yesterday.
Powell was due to race in Monday’s semi-finals but informed organisers he was experiencing tightness in his hamstring and would not line up in Australia’s oldest and richest short-distance foot race.
Powell said he would have a scan of the injury in Melbourne tomorrow.
The Jamaican sprint superstar developed soreness in the hamstring during the warm-up on Saturday although he chose to compete and finished third in his heat in 12.32 seconds off the scratch mark.
That time was good enough to qualify for the semi-finals, along with fastest qualifier and 2011 winner Mitchell Williams-Swain (12.08) and two-time Gift champion Josh Ross. Powell was competing for the first time since damaging his groin in the 100m final at last year’s London Olympics. The 120-metre Stawell Gift has been held annually since 1878 except for four years during the Second World War. AFP
