For Adkins, Paris win is another step towards the sprinting spotlight
Friday 6 July 2007
Paris, France - Derrick Atkins, who is distantly related to Asafa Powell, confirmed his place as a challenger to the world’s fastest men in the Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis tonight. Competing in his first IAAF Golden League race, Atkins produced a storming finish to win the 100 metres by a clear distance then claimed that he was now among the world’s top three men in his event.
Atkins clocked 10.00sec into a 0.1 headwind, a metre clear of runner-up Mark Jelks (10.09) and his US compatriot Shawn Crawford (10.13) who was third. “I am happy with the win but not really happy with the time,” said the sprinter who had set a new Bahamian national record of 9.95 in his previous race, in Athens, four days earlier.
“But it’s going to come - I can’t rush - I can’t pressure myself to run a sub 10 every time I step on the track,” added the 23-year-old Atkins, who is a second cousin of Powell, the joint world record holder, from Jamaica. The new threat to the likes of Powell and Tyson Gay, the American world leader this year on 9.84 -both absent tonight - has set his sights on a medal at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan, next month.
Although world-ranked No.4 on time this season behind Gay (9.84), Walter Dix (9.93) and Powell (9.94), Atkins answered “top three” when asked where he placed himself in the current 100m pecking order. Questioned on whether he fancied himself for a medal in Osaka, he replied “that’s the plan”. Describing his victory as “by far my biggest win”, he was delighted with the way he handled the occasion.
“I wasn’t nervous, I just needed to calm down and not get too excited,” Atkins added. "This is my first time in Paris and I was excited as soon as I stepped out. It was a bit difficult and, once again, there was a false start. Most races I have been in this year have had a false start so hopefully, one of these days, we’ll get a good clean race."
Atkins said that he was told by his mother in 2001 that he was related to Powell yet, remarkably, they have never spoken. “It is a relationship where neither of us have spoken to each other yet,” Atkins said. They should have had the chance here but Powell, having won the first Golden League 100m of the season in Oslo on June 15, was denied by injury from trying to keep his $1m Jackpot bid going.
It was put to Atkins that it must feel weird being told he was related to Powell then developing into one of his challengers. “No, it’s not weird,” Atkins said. “Things like that don’t really get to me. But he’s the world’s top guy and I’m looking forward to racing him.” When that might be will depend on how long Powell takes to recover from injury but Atkins’s race schedule up to Osaka takes in Lausanne next Tuesday followed by Rome and the PanAm Games.
Standing 6ft 1in, and weighing 190lbs, Atkins has broken 10sec four times this season, running 9.83w and 9.86w, as well as his legal best of 9.95. He was born in Jamaica but moved to the Bahamas at the age of two. While Powell may be a distant relation, Atkins’s immediate family includes four sisters and four brothers. Explaining his improvement this year he said: “It has been a work in progress - it is just that everything has come together this year.”
Atkins credits Mike Holloway, his coach of only eight months. He joined Holloway, who also coaches Kerron Clement, at the University of Florida and has not looked back. “After last year, after not having a coach, it is great being able to sit down with somebody and plan everything,” Atkins said. “I needed a change, so I scouted for coaches and Mike Holloway was the best fit for me - personality-wise, training-wise and his coaching style. I dedicate myself 100 per cent - I am a professional in every aspect.” His famous second cousin cannot fail to be impressed.
David Powell for the IAAF
