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9.63s - Asafa's Pain
By Donald Smith
9.63s was the time that flashed on the clock inside the stadium in London. Less than 10s after the starter fired the gun, the Men’s 100m Final, the Blue Ribbon event of Track and Field was over. Jamaica through Usain Bolt and the “Young Pretender” Yohan Blake etched their names in History taking Gold and Silver respectively.
While many Jamaicans and people world over celebrated in the success of the living Legend Bolt and his protégé Blake, others took it upon themselves to go after one of Jamaica’s favourite sons, yes, Asafa Powell. The ironic part of it all was that most of the persons going after Powell were themselves Jamaican or so they say.
50 years of Independence and one thing remains true, we Jamaicans find it fit to tear down our own. Asafa Powell has done so much for track and field and Jamaica, and while he falls short at times, one should never discount his contribution.
To the track and field wagonists out there, where were you in May 2005? That was the month that put Jamaica back on the sprinting map. On the 7th day of May, at the annual Jamaica Invitational Meet, Powell set a then new national record of 9.84s. The run was described as super by some; it was a run that was to herald a major change in athletics. On the 14th day of June a little over a month later, Asafa Powell ran a breath taking 9.77s to break the then World Record of 9.78s (Tim Montgomery’s time was eventually annulled by the IAAF due to doping and the official record broken was Maurice Greene’s 9.79s).
As we all know, Powell further lowered the World Record to 9.74s in 2007, and currently has a personal best of 9.72s, a time which only 2 other persons have bettered; Usain Bolt (9.58s, 9.63s and 9.69s) and Tyson Gay (9.69s).
So what is my point? Athletics was struggling from the doping fall out with big names confessing to boosting. The sport needed some new life and Asafa Powell was the one who started the revolution in Athletics, particularly track.
We should also note that it was Powell who showed that training locally can lead to significant success. It was Powell who ensured our Sprinting future by letting our youngsters (Bolt, Blake, et al) realize that success can be had at home.
It is upsetting when I see people going after Powell time and time again, when some of these same persons have never done any sport in their life. Some are only a part of the Athletics bandwagon which became filled to capacity after our Beijing exploits and have no idea what it takes to become a success in athletics, more so sprinting.
Powell should be given our support and encouraged to carry on. Linford Christie did the unthinkable in Barcelona 1992, when he won Gold in the 100m at age 32 years. Powell has the talent, he has been in the sport for close to 10 years. Which sprinter from Powell’s time is still on the scene? Answer that.
Powell’s longevity shows that the man is super talented and if he wants can prolong his career.
Let us give credit where it is due, Powell is one of our best sons; let us appreciate the man. Lest we have him leave like Sprint Queen Merlene Ottey.
http://www.og.nr/blogs-by-author/spo...fa-s-pain.html
By Donald Smith
9.63s was the time that flashed on the clock inside the stadium in London. Less than 10s after the starter fired the gun, the Men’s 100m Final, the Blue Ribbon event of Track and Field was over. Jamaica through Usain Bolt and the “Young Pretender” Yohan Blake etched their names in History taking Gold and Silver respectively.
While many Jamaicans and people world over celebrated in the success of the living Legend Bolt and his protégé Blake, others took it upon themselves to go after one of Jamaica’s favourite sons, yes, Asafa Powell. The ironic part of it all was that most of the persons going after Powell were themselves Jamaican or so they say.
50 years of Independence and one thing remains true, we Jamaicans find it fit to tear down our own. Asafa Powell has done so much for track and field and Jamaica, and while he falls short at times, one should never discount his contribution.
To the track and field wagonists out there, where were you in May 2005? That was the month that put Jamaica back on the sprinting map. On the 7th day of May, at the annual Jamaica Invitational Meet, Powell set a then new national record of 9.84s. The run was described as super by some; it was a run that was to herald a major change in athletics. On the 14th day of June a little over a month later, Asafa Powell ran a breath taking 9.77s to break the then World Record of 9.78s (Tim Montgomery’s time was eventually annulled by the IAAF due to doping and the official record broken was Maurice Greene’s 9.79s).
As we all know, Powell further lowered the World Record to 9.74s in 2007, and currently has a personal best of 9.72s, a time which only 2 other persons have bettered; Usain Bolt (9.58s, 9.63s and 9.69s) and Tyson Gay (9.69s).
So what is my point? Athletics was struggling from the doping fall out with big names confessing to boosting. The sport needed some new life and Asafa Powell was the one who started the revolution in Athletics, particularly track.
We should also note that it was Powell who showed that training locally can lead to significant success. It was Powell who ensured our Sprinting future by letting our youngsters (Bolt, Blake, et al) realize that success can be had at home.
It is upsetting when I see people going after Powell time and time again, when some of these same persons have never done any sport in their life. Some are only a part of the Athletics bandwagon which became filled to capacity after our Beijing exploits and have no idea what it takes to become a success in athletics, more so sprinting.
Powell should be given our support and encouraged to carry on. Linford Christie did the unthinkable in Barcelona 1992, when he won Gold in the 100m at age 32 years. Powell has the talent, he has been in the sport for close to 10 years. Which sprinter from Powell’s time is still on the scene? Answer that.
Powell’s longevity shows that the man is super talented and if he wants can prolong his career.
Let us give credit where it is due, Powell is one of our best sons; let us appreciate the man. Lest we have him leave like Sprint Queen Merlene Ottey.
http://www.og.nr/blogs-by-author/spo...fa-s-pain.html
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