Powell injured in wet climax to season

Jamaica's Asafa Powell pulled up with a hamstring injury during the men's 200 metres at the season-ending Super Track and Field meeting in Yokohama, yesterday.

The 100m world record holder limped off the track clutching his left leg in agony after feeling a twinge coming off the bend in wet and cold conditions.

"Asafa's in a lot of pain right now," Powell's manager Paul Doyle told reporters.

"He felt a pain in his hamstring. It would indicate some kind of tear, although probably a minor one."

Powell had been in explosive form since being beaten by American Tyson Gay in the 100m final at the World Championships in Osaka last month.

He lowered his own world record to 9.74 seconds in Rieti and cruised to victory in the 200m, an event he dislikes, at Shanghai's Golden Grand Prix on Friday.

Powell looked comfortable bursting from the blocks in Yokohama but pulled up suddenly just before the home straight to give American J.J. Johnson a clear path to victory in 20.64.