Power is also useful in the stride phase (contact, pushoff) as well as when the athlete has to run up hill and downhill. Power training increases the athlete's dynamicness (often seen in athletes who have a natural "spring" to their stride). Increased power results in better efficiency in running which can help overall race time.
The goal of my next few articles will be to introduce how you can use speed, strength and power training in your everyday routines to not only improve performance but also to add variation into your program (to keep enthusiasm high).