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New boy puts Powell in his place

SWEET VICTORY: Lerone Clarke won the 60m at the Aviva Grand Prix

BIRMINGHAM got a preview of this summer’s Olympic men’s 100m final at the National Indoor Arena (NIA) this afternoon.

New Jamaican sprint sensation Lerone Clarke led home compatriots Nesta Carter and favourite Asafa Powell in the 60m final at the Aviva Grand Prix. The other Jamaican in the race, Michael Frater, came home in seventh spot.

The Jamaican quartet had two other Caribbean athletes to keep them company in the 60m final. Veteran Kim Collins from St. Kitts & Nevis was joined by compatriot Antoine Adams

With the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, and 100m world champion Yohan Blake to swell their ranks, Jamaica are without doubt the track and field team to beat come the London 2012 Olympics in London this summer.

Legendary American sprinter Maurice Greene holds the 60m indoor world record with a mark of 6.39, and many anticipated before the NIA final that the class of the performers on show meant there was a real chance that Greene’s time would have been usurped.

Clarke was unable to match Greene’s mark but he did take the glory over his more fancied team mates in a time of 6.47 seconds.

Powell, the third fastest man in history, was making his long awaited debut at the NIA. However, he failed to deliver again.

Anguilla-born Shara Proctor now represents Great Britain and had her ‘home’ crowd ecstatic after a sensational long jump. Proctor, saw off Jessica Ennis who was taking part in her second event of the day, to twice break the British record. Her final jump of 6.80m had the large crowd on their feet.

Proctor said afterwards: “In my mind I had 6.71m because I had a dream. So I came out aiming at that. Then after I jumped that I said ‘Shara you can go further,’ so I did and I jumped 6.80m.

“I’m excited about the crowd. I love this crowd; it feels good to jump at home and really helps me jump further.”

Fan favourite Mo Farah came second in the two-mile event but still managed to claim the national record in a time of 8:08.07 behind Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge.