Powell pumped up… Sprinter determined to deliver in what could be final Olympics

He one of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of an individual Olympic Medal but a calmer, more experienced Asafa Powell has much to thank Jamaican teammate Usain Bolt for, as the fit again sprinter looks to make the most of what is likely to be his last Olympic Games.

Powell, who has been bothered in recent times by another groin flare-up, has been the subject of much criticism in the past for not being able to produce the goods under pressure, but the 29-year-old sprinter says he has turned the corner, thanks in part, to what he has taken from his friend Bolt.

“Before, I used to have a lot of pressure on my bands; before Usain it was only me and I felt the pressure of the entire Jamaica on me,” Powell said.

“Now I have learned from Usain to stay relaxed and not pressure myself or worry about anyone but just to do this for myself and I have been working on that and it seems to be working out,” he added.

With a positive, new outlook fuelling his desire, Powell is diving into his latest Olympic experience with renewed vigour, determined to better the two fifth-place finishes he has registered at his previous Olympic appearances in 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing).

“I’m definitely energised and really pumped for this games, I’m not getting any younger and this is probably my last one (Olympics). I’m just here to give my all,” said Powell yesterday.

Being tested further by the emergence of another Jamaican, Yohan Blake, Powell says his perspective has not been influenced by the younger Jamaican’s recent double win over Bolt at the Jamaican Olympic trials, maintaining that the result does not suggest that the outcome in London is more favourable for anyone or that it meant that Bolt is more vulnerable.

“The race is always open for anyone to win, you just have to be ready to run fast. It’s just that Usain has always been ready and always managed to stay ready,” Powell said.

“This year you have the Americans running well and us three Jamaicans who are running very fast. My coach spoke to me and told me what he is expecting this year; I am expecting a bit more but I don’t know what will happen in the final,” said Powell.

With nothing to lose and a determination to gain, Powell may very well be the one to give ‘lightning Bolt’ the shock he does not want at these London games.

Bolt can break barriers

The first man to ever run below 20 seconds in the 200m believes if Usain Bolt improves his start, he could break the nine-second and the 19-second barriers in the 100 and 200 metres, respectively.

American Tommie Smith, who won the 200m in 19.83 seconds at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, said once Bolt got a start similar to that of his training partner and fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake, both current world records would be under threat.

Bolt holds the 100m world record with a clocking of 9.58 seconds at the Berlin World Championships three years ago, and the 200m record with a time of 19.19 at the same showpiece.

“If he gets a Blake start, we are looking at 8.9, 8.88, three eights in the 100 metres,” Smith said Tuesday.

“If he gets a Blake start in the 200 and comes off the turn with that technique of his, he might really go sub-19.”

The 25-year-old Bolt has had troubles with his start throughout his career but has traditionally used his top-end speed to his advantage.

However, in the Jamaica Olympic Trials two weekends ago in Kingston, he was punished for a bad start, losing to Blake in the 100 metres despite a swift finish.

Bolt was also dealt a second defeat in the 200m, again at the hands of the impressive Blake.

Smith said his style had been similar to that of Bolt’s but conceded that the reigning Olympic 200m champion’s power outstripped everything else.

“I thought I was great when I ran. I didn’t have the start and I didn’t have the power,” said Smith.

“My average speed was quite close to Usain Bolt’s speed. But he gained his full speed I would say five metres, six or seven strides sooner than I did. He’s so powerful that he can get full speed 40 metres out in the 100, 120 metres of the 200.

“He’s taller than me and more powerful. It scares you.”

Bolt is beatable – Gatlin

American champion Justin Gatlin believes world record holder Usain Bolt is beatable and is determined to set about doing just that come this summer’s Olympic Games, as he looks to restore the United States’ dominance in the sprints.

“A lot of athletes were taken aback by Usain coming up so far so fast. I was able to observe him from afar,” Gatlin told UK online publication Mid Day (mid-day.com). “He’s human. He’s beatable. He has false started before. He’s not perfect.”

Gatlin took gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and then the sprint double at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki a year later. However, he was not around to defend the Olympic title in 2008 as he suspended from the sport for four years in 2006 after testing positive for testosterone. In his absence, Bolt has ruled the roost. The Jamaican posted stunning times of 9.69 and 19.30 to take the 100m and 200m titles, at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, before lowering both the current world records of 9.58 and 19.19. At both games the United States once the dominant sprint nation was forced to take a back seat as the Jamaicans swept the 100m and 200m titles for both the men’s and women’s event.

Gatlin booked his ticket back to the Olympics Games yesterday, in comfortable fashion, with a 9.80 clocking to win the 100m event at the United States Trials. Gatlin finished ahead of American record holder Tyson Gay (9.86) and Ryan Bailey who clocked 9.90 to take the third and final Olympic spot.

In fact, the American is unbeaten so far this season and has already recorded wins over Bolt’s compatriots Asafa Powell and Nesta Carter both of who will battle for spots on Jamaica’s national team at this weekend Olympic Trials. However, it is Bolt who has both the season’s best time over 100m 9.79, clocked in Olso in June and 9.76 recorded a month earlier in Rome. Gatlin’s coach Dennis Mitchell, while admitting that Bolt’s best of 9.58 will be tough to beat also does not think the sprinter cannot be stopped.

“We’re planning on them being in that 9.58-area,” said Mitchell, a former US sprint star.

“Whether or not we can get there remains to be seen, but we are working to be our best.

“There is not a guy on the planet who is not beatable,” Mitchell said. “No one is running the perfect race. There are no perfect sprinters out there.”

 

Sizzling 100m Run By Bolt; Jeter Also Wins In World-Leading Time

World 100 and 200 metres record holder Usain Bolt and American World 100 metres champion Carmelita Jeter produced dazzling performances at the JN Jamaica Invitational IAAF World Challenge meet inside the National Stadium last night.

Competing before a capacity crowd at the country’s premier sports venue, both clocked world-leading times in the men’s and women’s 100 metres, respectively.

Bolt had the crowd cheering wildly after he breezed to the line in 9.82 seconds, finishing ahead of Michael Frater (10.00) and Commonwealth and Pan Am Games champion Lerone Clarke (10.03). The race had earlier been held up by two false starts.

Good start to season

The 2008 Olympic champion was elated with his display.

“This is a good start for me as I was not able to compete last time and to come and give the crowd a nice treat … , I am happy. I am looking forward to the remainder of the season with great hope,” Bolt said.

In the women’s event, Jeter showed supreme speed and confidence in crossing the line in 10.81 seconds, beating the 10.86 meet record she set last year.

World Championships bronze medallist Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago was second in 10.86 seconds, as Jamaica’s Kerron Stewart finished strongly for third in 10.98 seconds.

Olympic 400-metre hurdles champion Melaine Walker had a successful start to the season in her pet event, winning in 55.29 seconds.

Walker took control of the race from very early and cruised home ahead of American Tiffany Williams (55.80) and fellow Jamaican Ristananna Tracy (56.62).

Happy for victory

“I am happy to come out and win tonight as it is always good to win at home. I am not too happy with the time, but the good thing is that I was able to finish the event injury-free,” a satisfied Walker said after her event.

World leader in the men’s 400-metre hurdles, American Bershawn Jackson, competing for the first time locally as a senior, showed his class in the event by racing to an impressive 48.73 seconds, beating Trinidad and Tobago’s Jehue Gordon (48.98). Defending champion Justin Gaymon of the United States was third in 49.08.

“The atmosphere in Jamaica is always great, and it reminded me of when I competed here at the World Junior Championships in 2002,” said Jackson.

The meet started off on an excellent note. Former Vere Technical standout Kimberly Williams delighted the large crowd with a personal best of 14.33 metres to take the women’s triple jump. The distance is an Olympic ‘A’ standard. Trinidad and Tobago’s Ayana Alexander (13.69m) and American Whitney Liehr (13.18m) finished second and third, respectively.

Bolt has nothing to prove – Frater

World Championship silver medalist Michael Frater does not believe his compatriot Usain Bolt has anything to prove by adding the 400m relay to his schedule for the London Games, and believes he has no choice but to choose between the two sprint relays.

Bolt and Frater, along with Nesta Carter and Yohan Blake, combined to take gold at the Daegu World Championships in a new world record time of 37.04.

Frater believes Bolt could be under pressure from certain quarters who have often expressed a desire to see the athlete run the 400m, perhaps adding to his status as an all-time great. The MVP athlete, however, believes that repeating his feat at the Beijing World Championships should be enough.

“Some people would like to see him run a 400, and I think that’s the way they are trying to get him to run a 400,” Frater told UK publication inside the games (insidethegames.biz).

“But I don’t think he really needs to do anything extra. If he can win the Olympic 100 and 200 as he did in Beijing, I don’t think he needs to prove anything to anyone.”

The MVP Track club sprinter is also of the opinion that the scheduling in London will make it very tough for Bolt to consider the 4X400, 4X100 double.

“Last year in Daegu, I think he was really tired after doing the sprint relay.

“Doing the 4×400 in London is going to be very difficult when you look at the scheduling.

“Usain would definitely have to choose between doing the 4×100 and the 4×400.

There are, however, still a few more hurdles in Bolt’s way to running the relay double at the 2012 Games. The easiest way for Bolt to be considered for the team would be to run the 400m at the National Trials and that, as we have heard from his coach Glen Mills, is out of the question. The event will also require additional preparation, which will be tough for the sprinter.

“I think Usain running the 400 relay is definitely going to impact on his sprinting – as he is realising,” Frater said.