KINGSTON, Jan 3, 2009 (AFP) - Former 100m World Record holder and Olympic relay gold medallist Asafa Powell will open his 2009 season with a 400m race at a local meeting here on January 31.
As he did last year, Powell will run the 400m at the Queens/Grace Jackson Development meet at the national stadium complex as part of his early season training as builds strength and endurance for the World Championship season.
Last year Powell was fifth in his heat of the quarter-mile race in 48.76 seconds and 10th overall.
The 400m was won at the 2008 meeting by Usain Bolt in 46.94sec. Jamaica’s Bolt went on to a spectacular season that included three Olympic gold medals - in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, all in world record time.
Meanwhile an upper body injury uffered while training in April set Powell back and he went on to finish fifth in the 100m final at the Olympic Games in Beijing, where also anchored Jamaica’s triumphant 4x100 relay.