Asafa Powell Will Pose Challenge to Bolt and Gay in Berlin

Asafa Powell Bonita Jamaica Fastest
Originally uploaded by Bonita Jamaica

Ok friends, you may be saying that I'm crazy, but I believe that 2009 will be the year for Asafa Powell.

[Asafa Powell  is the former World recorder holder in the 100 metres(m), having set the record of 9.74 seconds in 2007. This record was subsequently broken by Usain Bolt (9.69 seconds) in the 2008 Beijing Olympics].

I saw him at the Jamaica Amateur Athletic (JAAA) Championships - on Saturday, which was the Jamaica National Trials for Berlin World Championships and the CAC Games in Cuba and he gave Usain Bolt a good run for his money!

Bolt had to get into 3rd gear to pass Asafa at the 70 metre line mark in the 100m.

Usain Bolt won the race in 9.86 seconds (secs), Powell came in second at 9.97 secs and Michael Frater came in third at 10.02 secs.

Thus all three (3) have qualified to represent Jamaica in the 100m in the Berlin, Germany, in August.

Most of Jamaica's senior athletes are currently on the European IAAF Golden League Tour and there is an expected showdown between Bolt and Tyson Gay at these games.

(Tyson Gay is the world's third fastest man in the 100m, having run 9.77 secs in June 2008).

However, I feel Asafa will be the dark horse, if not at the Golden Leagues, at the Berlin World Championships, for the 100m.

He seems to mean business this time around, having rebounded from months of injury.

(Apparently he's upset over the flack he's been getting in the Jamaican media and from Jamaicans, re his inability to perform at major events like the World Championships and the Olympics and is determined to prove that he's still the greatest at the 100m).

He told the media that he's going on the Golden League Tour to recover his gold medal and I believe him.

I think Jamaicans should too...what about you...do you think it's Asafa's time to shine?

(I would like to thank Bonita Jamaica for the use of her Flickr inset photo of Asafa Powell at the end of his world record run in June 2006 of 9.77 secs).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Television Jamaica June 27-29,2009

2) Asafa Powell biography- Wikipedia.org

3) Michael Frater biography- Wikipedia.org

4) Tyson Gay biography - Wikpedia.org

Comments

[Gillian Campbell]

Hi PC,

Thanks much for your comment! :)

Hmmmh....

I might have agreed with you, had I not seen Asafa's performance at the Jamaica National Trials.

I believe Asafa still has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Let's see what happens during the Golden Leagues...

If Asafa beats Tyson Gay...I think it's a good indicator that he really means business this year. :)

Gillian

[Gillian Campbell]

Hi Esteban,

Thanks for your comment!

Yes, Asafa needs to "turn up"...

He's not getting any younger and he only runs the 100m.

If he doesn't perform...he may just become extinct. :)

Gillian

[PC]

Well I can see u r a die hard Asafa fan. I am a big fan of his 2, and I would luv 4 him to get an individual gold medal in a major championship b4 he retires....but realistically, I think it will b hard to beat Usain this year despite his not training as much as last year. He looked awesome at the trials. I believe 4 now only Usain can cause Usain to lose.

[ESTEBAN AGOSTO REID]

Gillian, you could/may be right with respect to Asafa's time. As they say, it is due!! Nuff respect!!