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Jamaican sprint superstar Asafa Powell says a tight hamstring has ended his Stawell Gift campaign at the opening stage.
But his camp insist the former 100m world record holder could still recover in time for Monday’s semi-finals if he responds well to physiotherapy over the next two days.
Powell experienced soreness in the hamstring during the warm-up on Saturday, although he chose to defy the problem and finish third in his heat in 12.32 seconds off the scratch mark.
That time was good enough to book him a spot in Monday’s semi-finals, along with the likes of fastest qualifier and 2011 winner Mitchell Williams-Swain (12.08) and two-time Gift champion Josh Ross.
Immediately after the race, Powell said he would not risk further hamstring problems by contesting the semis.
“No, I definitely can’t run (on Monday),” said Powell.
“The hammy is giving me some problems and it wouldn’t be fair to me to go out there and push it.
“But I really wanted to give the crowd the performance today.
“From 30 metres, the leg started to get real tight. I came out of the drive phase and just started running.
“But I wasn’t running 100 per cent.”
If Powell pulls out of the Gift, he will incur an automatic 14-day suspension, ruling him out of the 100m at next Saturday’s Melbourne Track Classic.
But his travelling coach Aundre Edwards said Powell could still be on the start line at Central Park on Easter Monday.
“The physio is looking at it and it all looks good so far, so we’ll wait and see,” said Edwards.
“He’s still got a day’s rest and nothing has been ruled out so far.
“… When he spoke to me he didn’t feel an injury.”
Powell was competing for the first time since damaging his groin in the 100m final at last year’s London Olympics.
Ross, the other main drawcard at the 132nd edition of the famed 120m handicap race, looked to have plenty in reserve as he won his heat in 12.49 on a cool day in Stawell.
“I am ecstatic,” said Ross, who won the Gift in 2003 and 2005, with the latter victory coming off scratch.
“I am really happy I am in the semi-final and I believe I have a good chance to do this.
“I shut down with 30 metres to go, so it is still definitely a fast time.”
Ross was one of four former Gift champions to win their heats on Saturday along with Williams-Swain, Aaron Stubbs and Sam Jamieson.
Williams-Swain improved to $3 favouritism with the bookmakers on the basis of his dominant heat win.