LJUBLJANA, 14 June 2005 — Jamaican Asafa Powell, the fastest man in the world over 100 meters this year, plans an assault on Tim Montgomery’s world record some time soon.
“I’m strong enough and I’m confident about it,” Powell said in an interview. “Yeah, it’s coming.”
Powell’s confidence has solid foundations. Racing in cool and rainy conditions last Thursday, he clocked 9.85 seconds in Ostrava, second only to his 9.84 in Kingston last month. Only Montgomery, who clocked 9.78 in the 2002 Paris grand prix final, and former world record holder Maurice Greene have ever run faster.
“I’m surprised that the time was so fast because the weather was so bad,” Powell said. “I never knew it was going to be that fast.”
He added that in better conditions: “Maybe, I could have broken the world record.”
Powell, 22, whose next race is scheduled for Athens today has displayed exceptional early season form.
In Kingston, he equaled Canadians Donovan Bailey and Bruny Surin as the third fastest men ever. Easing to the finish line in that race, Powell said, may have cost him the world record.
