Powell: I can go faster still
New 100m world record-holder Asafa Powell sees no reason why he cannot run even faster after setting the mark at 9.77seconds in Athens.
The Jamaican shaved one-hundredth of a second off the old mark set by American Tim Montgomery in Paris three years ago, but believes he will need to step up the pace still further at the World Championships in Helsinki in August.
The 22-year-old Jamaican, who was aided by a 1.6 metres-per-second wind, said: “Who knows how much faster I can run?
“I am very happy that in my second presence here in Greece I achieved this performance.”
Powell was only fifth in last year’s Olympic 100m final, but scorched to victory in the Greek capital last night, also the scene for Maurice Greene’s world-record performance in 1999.
“It is amazing after Maurice Greene I also achieved a world record in this stadium,” Powell added.
Asked whether the 9.6secs barrier was now approachable, Powell said: “I don’t know if that is possible, but I know I can run faster. I knew I could break the world record and I am very happy that I succeeded. If you ask if I can do more this year, you will have just to wait and see.”
Jason Gardener made the final after posting a season’s best of 10.13secs in his heat but cramp saw him out of contention in the final, where he finished last.
It was a forgettable night all round for British sprinters, with Mark Lewis-Francis finishing a dejected sixth in his heat.
Larry Achike clinched fifth place in the triple jump with a season’s best 17.03m, while Goldie Sayers matched that position when not far short of her personal best with a 61.26m javelin throw.
Commonwealth 400m hurdles champion Chris Rawlinson ran a season’s best 49.61secs, but that was only good enough for seventh place.
