In Jamaica, Asafa Powell wins final of men's 100m with 9.84

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) Former world record-holder Asafa Powell won the 100-meter final Friday night in Jamaica's trials in 9.84 seconds.

The 32-year-old Powell used a strong finish to earn a spot in the world championships in August in China. Powell dominated three rounds of races at the National Stadium.

Nickel Ashmeade finished second at 9.91, followed by Kemar Bailey-Cole at 9.97, and Nesta Carter at 9.98. On Friday, Yohan Blake, the 2011 world champion in the 100, failed to reach the final after finishing sixth in his semifinal with a time of 10.35.

After his victory, Powell said he's in ''hard training'' for the world championships and he's ''going there for the gold medal.''

Once the top sprinter on the track, Powell lowered the world record in the 100 to 9.77 in 2005, then 9.74 in 2008 before being eclipsed by countryman Usain Bolt.

Bolt's coach made a late decision to withdraw the world's top sprinter from the Jamaica trials. Bolt already has a berth secured in the world championships to defend his 100 and 200 titles.

Bolt and Powell are both expected to compete at Diamond League meets in July in Paris and Lausanne, Switzerland.

Last year, a Jamaican disciplinary panel banned Powell from athletics for 18 months after he tested positive in 2013 for a banned stimulant. But the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced that ban to six months.

In the women's 100, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won in a world-leading 10.79. She beat her own world-leading time of 10.81.

Her strong Friday performance is a good sign for Fraser-Pryce who has working to recapture her top sprinting form before the worlds, where she's the defending champion in the 100 and 200.

Natasha Morrison was second in 11.03. Veronica Campbell-Brown was third at 11.06.

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David McFadden on Twitter: http://twitter.com/dmcfadd