KINGSTON – Asafa Powell, the howling favorite to capture the 100m title at the 2015 Jamaica National Trials, lived up to expectation when he clocked 9.84secs in Kingston last night (26). Running with a 0.9mps wind behind him, the former 100m world holder, who has a new approach to finishing his races, defeated contenders Nickel Ashmeade, last year’s title holder (9.91); 2014 Commonwealth champion Kemar Bailey-Cole (9.97); and Nesta Carter, a member of the 2012 sprint relay world record team (9.98).
Rounding out the field were University of Technology students Andrew Fisher (10.01) and Tyquendo Tracey (10.15), and Michael Frater (10.18), also a sprint relay world record team member. The eighth man in the field Jason Livermore did not finish the race; he pulled up some 40 meters from the line and fell to the track grimacing.
Powel said in a post-race interview that he definitely wasn’t going to Beijing to lose and that until the 100m final last night he was concerned about the fitness of his male compatriots; however, he was happy that the top three finishers behind him all went under ten seconds. The three runners-up and Usain Bolt will compete in the 100m at theWorld Championships in Beijing this August.
“It shows that we still have it,” Powell said. “Usain has a way to go and I think he can come back for the World Championships. It’s kind of sad what’s happening to Yohan Blake, and I really feel it for him. He just needs to take his time; next year is a big year, so he needs to focus on it. We have been on top of the world for a number of years and will continue that trend.”
Credit to His Brother
He credited his new approach to racing to being coached by his brother. “I am trying to be proud of myself and make my brother proud to be coaching me. I am feeling a lot more comfortable training with him. It’s more a family thing, so it’s coming from the heart; it’s not a business.”
Powell shared that coming back from his drug suspension adversity was not easy and that it showed him who the real people were and who had his back. “It makes me a lot stronger. I am still not fully over it because it’s something you don’t get over just like that.”
Now Powell is excited about running against other big guns in Paris on 4 July and continuing his winning streak for the reason. “I’m definitely going there all out.”
As for his groin problems that plagued him for years, Powell said he has not had that problem in months and was feeling very happy with his body.