Powell withdraws from Walnut relay

Jamaican 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell pulled out of his first race of the season because of a tender right knee.

The 24-year-old sprinter had been scheduled to represent his country in the men's 4x100 metres relay at the Hilmer Lodge Stadium in California on Sunday but decided to withdraw as a precaution.

"I'm very sad but it was a little too cold for me," Powell said over the public address system at the 49th edition of the Mt San Antonio College Relays.

"Although my knee has been a bit tender in training, I felt confident I would be able to run today."

Powell's manager Paul Doyle said the 100 metres world record holder would compete at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia later this month, then a season-opener in Jamaica in May.

Powell, who twice equalled his 100 metres world record of 9.77 seconds last year, is building his season around the World Championships which take place in Osaka from Aug. 25-Sept. 2.

Although undisputed as the number one men's sprinter, the Jamaican is yet to win a world or Olympic medal.

The Relays, first held in 1959, have consistently attracted some of the world's greatest athletes on one of the fastest all-weather tracks in the world. Big names such as Carl Lewis and Marion Jones have been frequent visitors to the Walnut venue which has produced 14 world records.