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I'll be going all out in 2008, says Asafa
Kayon Raynor, Observer senior staff reporter
raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, January 10, 2008
World 100m record-holder Asafa Powell (right) displays one of the 50 bodysuits he presented to Charlemont High in Ewarton, St Catherine, while PE Department head, Elaine Frazier, looks on yesterday. . (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
WINNING his first global 100-metre title at this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, China, is just one of Asafa Powell's goals for the upcoming outdoor track & field season.
In addition, the world record-holder (9.74secs) is aiming to finish the season unbeaten - like he did in 2006 when he produced a record 12 sub-10secs clockings, including twice equalling his then world record of 9.77secs.
"2008 I'll be going all out; I'll not be easy up or holding back on anyone... it's just going to be some serious stuff out there. I'm not backing out of anything so I believe I'll go unbeaten," Powell told the Observer at his alma mater, Charlemont High School in Ewarton, St Catherine, yesterday moments after handing over Nike gear valued at more than a million dollars.
"In 2006 I was injury-free and I did excellent, so I'm hoping I'll be back to that kind of shape and just stay healthy. My legs are holding up quite well so far," he added, noting that he is not feeling any effects from the groin and tendonitis (knee) injuries which affected him prior to the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, where he took bronze in the 100m behind American Tyson Gay and Bahamian Derrick Atkins.
"I'm training harder than usual and the coach (Stephen Francis) is impressed. so this year if everything goes according to plan, there'll be no stopping me," said Powell, who started training in November.
Following his loss in Osaka, the Jamaican star admitted to panicking in the last 40 metres of the race, but he said that won't happen again.
"The injuries are holding up quite fine and I'm doing a lot of hard work on them not to make them come back, so I should be fine both physically and mentally," he said.
Meanwhile, Powell and his MVP team-mates are scheduled to leave the island for Australia on February 8 for a short camp.
"I think I might be running at one or two competitions, but it will be for training mostly," the world's fastest man disclosed.
Powell, who is the only Caribbean man to produce sub-10 and sub-20 clockings in the 100-200 double in a single season (2006) - behind Ato Boldon of Trinidad & Tobago and Obadele Thompson Barbados - said he will be focusing on the 100m this season.
"Based on how the training has been going, it seems like it'll be only the 100 metres this year," he stated.
Track fans will remember Powell pulling up with a hamstring injury while running the 200m at a meet in Yokohama, Japan, on September 30 last year.
Kayon Raynor, Observer senior staff reporter
raynork@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, January 10, 2008
World 100m record-holder Asafa Powell (right) displays one of the 50 bodysuits he presented to Charlemont High in Ewarton, St Catherine, while PE Department head, Elaine Frazier, looks on yesterday. . (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
WINNING his first global 100-metre title at this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing, China, is just one of Asafa Powell's goals for the upcoming outdoor track & field season.
In addition, the world record-holder (9.74secs) is aiming to finish the season unbeaten - like he did in 2006 when he produced a record 12 sub-10secs clockings, including twice equalling his then world record of 9.77secs.
"2008 I'll be going all out; I'll not be easy up or holding back on anyone... it's just going to be some serious stuff out there. I'm not backing out of anything so I believe I'll go unbeaten," Powell told the Observer at his alma mater, Charlemont High School in Ewarton, St Catherine, yesterday moments after handing over Nike gear valued at more than a million dollars.
"In 2006 I was injury-free and I did excellent, so I'm hoping I'll be back to that kind of shape and just stay healthy. My legs are holding up quite well so far," he added, noting that he is not feeling any effects from the groin and tendonitis (knee) injuries which affected him prior to the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, where he took bronze in the 100m behind American Tyson Gay and Bahamian Derrick Atkins.
"I'm training harder than usual and the coach (Stephen Francis) is impressed. so this year if everything goes according to plan, there'll be no stopping me," said Powell, who started training in November.
Following his loss in Osaka, the Jamaican star admitted to panicking in the last 40 metres of the race, but he said that won't happen again.
"The injuries are holding up quite fine and I'm doing a lot of hard work on them not to make them come back, so I should be fine both physically and mentally," he said.
Meanwhile, Powell and his MVP team-mates are scheduled to leave the island for Australia on February 8 for a short camp.
"I think I might be running at one or two competitions, but it will be for training mostly," the world's fastest man disclosed.
Powell, who is the only Caribbean man to produce sub-10 and sub-20 clockings in the 100-200 double in a single season (2006) - behind Ato Boldon of Trinidad & Tobago and Obadele Thompson Barbados - said he will be focusing on the 100m this season.
"Based on how the training has been going, it seems like it'll be only the 100 metres this year," he stated.
Track fans will remember Powell pulling up with a hamstring injury while running the 200m at a meet in Yokohama, Japan, on September 30 last year.