Jamaica's Asafa Powell during his record-breaking 100-metre victory at the Athens Super Grand Prix meet yesterday. Powell clocked 9.77 seconds, bettering the world record held by Tim Montgomery with 9.78 seconds, which was set in Paris in 2002. - REUTERS
NEW WORLD 100-metre record holder Asafa Powell was showered with praise yesterday after his scintillating performance in Greece.
Powell raced to a world record yesterday at the Athens Super Grand Prix by running 9.77 seconds to erase American Tim Montgomery's three-year-old mark of 9.78.
Acting Prime Minister, Peter Phillips, the Minister of National Security, said it was with great national pride and joy that he commend Powell's run on behalf of the government and people of Jamaica.
PERSONAL TRIBUTE
Phillips said Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who is in Doha, Qatar, had asked him to express his personal tribute to this outstanding national son.
"Asafa's record-breaking run is eloquent testimony of Jamaica's profound impact on the inter-national stage and our possibilities as a nation in the modern world," Phillips said in a statement.
"We all wish for Asafa even greater victories as his career unfolds."
Portia Simpson Miller, Minister of Local Government Community Development and Sports, said: "He (Asafa) is truly the fastest man alive, and his world record is well deserved".
The minister said Powell had shown signs of a world-record time from May.
"Those of us who were privileged to see him clock 9.84 seconds at the second Jamaica Invitational Meet early this year (May 7) knew that it was only a matter of time before he shattered the then world record," Simpson Miller said.
She also acknowledged the excellent performances of the other Jamaican athletes who participated at yesterday's meet.
AWESTRUCK
Deputy Leader and Opposition Spokesperson for Youth, Comm-unity Development and Sports, James Robertson, also praised Powell's run.
"I was awestruck with Asafa Powell's electrifying record-breaking performance in the 100m in Athens, Greece. A hair-splitting 9.77 seconds goes to illustrate the superb talent of this fine Jamaican athlete. His spectacular perform-ance has again brought Jamaica to the fore in its continuous achievements in track and field events," Robertson said.
"Kudos to Asafa and his exceptional coaching team," he said.
Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) president Howard Aris said it was a welcome gift for Jamaica athletics.
Apart from saying, "we have very little to do with Powell's performance, if anything at all, he said every Jamaican should be happy.
"The important thing is that he must be congratulated and his coach Stephen Francis for an outstanding performance. It really speaks of the capacity of Jamaicans to do whatever we want to do once we put our minds to it," Aris said.
Aris also spoke of the positives from Powell's run, especially as a local-based athlete.
"It will encourage more coaches to go into coaching at the senior level and when that happens, it will also encourage more athletes to remain here in Jamaica," he said.
The JAAA president said he now hoped corporate Jamaica would come on board and support athletics
Meanwhile, Asafa's father, William Powell, was overjoyed with his son's record run.
"I am just rejoicing right now while saying dat di little man (Asafa) from di little country break di world record," he said.
"I'm feeling good man ... the family are rejoicing, we got a call from Texas from his brother and my wife is just here moving up and down in the place, and I myself is just walking up and down and giving thanks, because we remembered him as a little small boy.
"I am proud of him," Powell Snr said.
As for the athlete himself, Powell said he would not put any extra pressure on himself at this year's World Championships after claiming the record.
"I have the World Championships on my mind. I have the gold medal on my mind. Last year I made a mistake and made the pressure get to me .. I won't be making the same mistake this year," Powell told The Gleaner yesterday.
The world fastest man will arrive in the island this afternoon at 5:00.
"I am looking forward to coming back home," said Powell, who will then begin preparations for the National Championships which start next Friday.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE RECORD
Time: Name (Nationality) date
10.6 seconds: D. Lippincott (U.S.) 6/7/12
10.4: C. Paddock (U.S.) 23/4/21
10.3: P. Williams (Canada) 9/8/30
10.2: J. Owens (U.S.) 20/6/36
10.1: W. Williams (U.S.) 3/8/56
10.0: A. Hary (West Germany) 21/6/60
9.95: J. Hines (U.S.) 14/10/68
9.93: C. Smith (U.S.) 3/7/83
9.92: C. Lewis (U.S.) 24/9/88
9.90: L. Burrell (U.S.) 14/6/91
9.86: C. Lewis (U.S.) 25/8/91
9.85: L. Burrell (U.S.) 6/7/94
9.84: D. Bailey (Canada) 27/7/96
9.79: M. Greene (U.S.) 16/6/99
9.78: T. Montgomery (U.S.) 14/9/02
9.77: A. Powell (Jamaica) 14/6/05
