Olympic sprint relay gold medallist Asafa Powell (left) races to victory in 47.75 seconds in a heat of the men's 400m at yesterday's Queen's/Grace Jackson Invitational Meet at the Stadium east complex. Ainsley Waugh, Powell's MVP teammate, is at right.- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Olympic gold medallists Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Melaine Walker, along with Shericka Williams, opened the season at the Queen's/Grace Jackson Invitational, held at the Stadium east complex.

Walker, the Beijing 400m hurdles champion, however, was the only winner from the star attractions.

Her victory came in the women's 200m event, crossing the finish line in 23.73 seconds to take the time final event.

Other Olympians, Shericka Williams, silver medallist in the women's 400m, and Anastasia Le-Roy, were second and third in 23.77 and 24.42, respectively.

Powell, in a competitive 400m heat, held off the challenge of Nesta Carter, his teammate on the history-making Beijing 4x100m team, to win in 47.75 seconds.

Carter (47.82) and Ainsley Waugh (48.08) who, like Powell, are members of the Stephen Francis-coached MVP track and field club, were second and third.

Powell's winning time, however, was second overall behind Annsert Whyte of Racers Track Club (47.59) in the four-heat time final event.

A happy Powell said his race strategy was different from last year when he made a fool of himself.

"Last year I was running like a mad man. I came here and ran the first 300m like crazy and could not finish, but this year, I just controlled my race," he added.

"I just went out and reserved something for the end," he explained, while saying "47.7 was a good time for a sprinter".

"The aim was to finish and run under 48 seconds, which I did, and I am very satisfied," he said.

personal best

Fraser, the Beijing 100-metre champion, who ran 54.99 for second in heat two of the women's 400m behind Anneisha McLaughlin (53.92), was third overall behind winner Brigitte Foster-Hylton (53.89).

Fraser was also satisfied with her 54.99 run, a personal best.

"I totally hate the 400m, but I have to do it and it's something I will have to get over," said Fraser, who won Olympic gold in 10.78.

"Things are looking good so far, especially with this 54.9 run, which is a big personal best for me," she said.

"I did 58 last year and I think that is a big improvement and good sign going into an important season," added Fraser.

Meanwhile, in the high schools section, Calabar's World Youth 200m champion, Ramone McKenzie, won his pet event, the boys' Class One 200m, in 21.37 ahead of Kingston College's Keiron Stewart (21.38).

Jazeel Murphy of Bridgeport (21.69) took Class Two ahead of Jovan Brown of Fortis International (22.33) while Garvey Maceo's Denval Daley (22.76) took Class Three.

In Class One, Carrie Russell made her first appearance for her new school, The Queen's School, with a 25.23 seconds victory in the girls' Class One 200m event.

Russell's schoolmates Danielle Williams (25.33), Chanice Bonner (26.09) and Brittani Duncan (26.78) took Classes Two, Three and Four, respectively.

Kearah Danville, also of The Queen's School, took the girls' Under-19 triple jump with a leap of 11.77m.

Keyanda Henry of St Jago won the girls' Class Two 1500m event in 4:53.14 ahead of Andrea Thompson of Red Hills (5:00.40).

Romaine Headman of Jamaica College (4:49.12) and Calabar's Ravaughn Scott (4:19.99) won the boys' Class Two and Three 1500m, respectively.

Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser competing in the women's 400m at yesterday's Queen's/Grace Jackson Invitational Meet at the Stadium east complex.- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer