Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Jamaica's Asafa Powell poses next to the timer marking his world record run over 100 metres in Athens, Greece, yesterday. Powell clocked a time of 9.77 seconds at the Olympic Stadium. - REUTERS
JAMAICA'S ASAFA Powell scorched the track at the Athens Olympic Stadium yesterday to set a world record 9.77 seconds in the men's 100 metres.
Competing at the Athens Super Grand Prix meet, the 22-year-old Jamaican sprinter delivered in spectacular fashion after predicting a fast time on the eve of the meet. His new mark broke the 9.78 set by American Tim Montgomery in Paris on September 14, 2002.
He had been threatening to beat the world mark all season. The St. Catherine native ran a world-leading 9.84 at the May 7 Jamaica International Invitational meet and followed that up with times of 9.84 (wind-aided) and 9.85 at a meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic last Thursday night.
After the race, an elated Powell told The Gleaner: "I did this for all Jamaicans. I hope that everyone is happy and the support is there. I thank everybody for supporting me."
Powell added: "It was a pretty good race although I thought it could be a little bit better. But I am quite happy with it, because I got me a world record."
Asked if he could have gone faster yesterday, Powell replied: "As I got close to the finish line, I looked at the screen (clock), but I am not sure that did much."
PLANS TO GO FASTER
Powell joined Americans Montgomery (9.78) and Maurice Greene (9.79) as the only athletes to run under 9.80 seconds.
The new world record holder who had the entire field covered after 40 metres is planning to go even faster.
"Well, yes, I have it in mind and I have the confidence and the ability to do it," he said.
The Stephen Francis-coached athlete, who was nominated for the IAAF Male Athlete-of-the-Year Award in 2004, had times of 9.87, 9.91 (twice), 9.93, 9.94, 9.95, 9.98, 9.99 (twice) last season, a feat previously recorded by Namibian Frankie Fredericks.
Athens has seen a world 100m record before. It was on the same track that American Greene broke his countryman's Leroy Burrell's then world record of 9.85 by running 9.79 in 1999.
In yesterday's event, Powell pulled Aziz Zakari of Ghana (9.99) and fellow countryman Michael Frater (10.03) to personal best times.
At the same meet, Sherone Simpson made it a Jamaican sweep in the short sprint. She clocked 11.15 to capture the women's 100m beating Ukraine's Zhanna Block (11.19) and Greece's Yeoryia Kokloni (11.33).
