ESPN staff
May 13, 2010
Asafa Powell insists he can beat Usain Bolt’s 100m world record as he prepares for his first competitive race of the season.
Powell gets his season underway on Friday at the inaugural IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha, and the race favourite is confident of lowering his fellow Jamaican’s record mark of 9.58 seconds.
“It’s something that I’m confident I can go below. I’ve been feeling good so far since the start of the year so I’m thinking positive,” he said.
To date, Powell has twice previously held world record times - 9.77 in 2005 and 9.74 in 2007, and while the 27-year-old is keen to reclaim his status as the fastest man on the planet, his priorities are centred on running well.
"I’m not really focusing on any times right now, not really focusing on the world record. “I’ll be going out there to give my best and if my best is better than the world record I’ll be happy,” he added.
With a lifetime best of 9.72 set in Lausanne two years ago - the joint fifth-fastest in history, Powell prefers to look at the positives rather than spend time moaning about the fact he is no longer the undisputed number one.
"“This is the best time to be in the sport, when the sport is at the highest level. The sport has never been at this level before so what better time to be in the sport? It’s driving me; I’m still up there in the spotlight. I have nothing to be worrying about, just to try and compete and run very fast,” he said.
Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu will lead Britain’s charge in Doha, taking on a strong field in the 400m. Ohurugou, who finished a disappointing fifth at the World Championships in Berlin last summer, will line-up alongside world indoor champion Debbie Dunn, Olympic and World Championship silver medallist Shericka Williams and three-time world 200m champion Allyson Felix.