Eaton, Powell shine in early indoor action

Ashton Eaton's bid for an unprecedented hat-trick of heptathlon gold medals at the World Indoor Athletics Championships got off to a smooth start in Portland, USA on Friday on the first full day of the four-day meeting.

After two events, the reigning world and Olympic decathlon champion had opened up a commanding lead over his rivals as he chases a third gold to set alongside his victories in 2012 and 2014.

The American star's performances were among the early highlights of the morning session at the Oregon Convention Centre which saw Jamaica's Asafa Powell clock the fastest time in the world this year in the opening rounds of the 60 metres.

In the first heptathlon event of the day, Eaton eased to victory in the 60m, coasting home in 6.81sec, way off his personal best but still good enough to earn him 951 points.

Ukraine's Oleksiy Kasyanov and Samuel Remedios of Portugal were second and third fastest overall.

Eaton fared better in the long jump, easily outperforming his rivals with a leap of 8.08m on his second charge down the runway.

Eaton punched the air after passing the eight-metre mark, and confidently waived his third attempt, certain he had done enough to maintain his lead.

"My long jump has been struggling for a while in practice and competition ... I got fired up for this one," Eaton said, who led Kasyanov by 167 points after two events with 2 032 points.

Eaton said he had skipped the third attempt in the long jump to save himself for the shot put and high jump later Friday.

"I'm getting old," Eaton joked.

"I've gotta conserve energy."

POWELL QUICK OFF MARK

But Eaton's spouse Brianne Theisen-Eaton – bidding to win her first gold at a major championships after three silvers – was trailing in third place after three events in the pentathlon.

The Canadian had 2 935 points after the 60m hurdles, high jump and shot put, behind Ukraine's Anastasia Mokhnyuk, first with 3 007 points and Alina Fodorova in second with 2 999 points.

In the men's 60m, meanwhile, Powell showed he means business as he chases his first individual world title with a time of 6.44sec.

The 33-year-old's mark was comfortably faster than anything clocked by his rivals, leaving him satisfied heading into the semifinals later Friday.

"I'm ready for this," Powell said afterwards. "I came here to run fast and that's what I'm going to do."

China's Xie Zhenye was second fastest in qualifying with a time of 6.55sec while evergreen St. Kitts and Nevis sprinter Kim Collins also impressed with the third fastest time – 6.56sec – just weeks away from his 40th birthday.

Asked to explain his remarkable longevity, Collins said he was reaping the benefits of looking after his body.

"Listen man, age is age," the 39-year-old said. "But I work so hard to take care of my body. My body's giving me back that goodness that I've been giving to it."

This week's championships are the first to take place since the International Association of Athletics Federations suspended Russia from all competition after the bombshell report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada).
Source :AFP