Athletics
Powell yet to decide on relay
2011-08-29 14:48
Daegu - Asafa Powell, the fastest man in the world this year, said he would decide by Thursday whether to run in the 4x100m Jamaican relay team as he battles to regain fitness.
Powell came to the world championships in South Korea as one of the favourites for the 100m, eventually won by compatriot Yohan Blake after a shock false start saw defending champion Usain Bolt, also of Jamaica, disqualified.
But Powell was ruled out of the race before the worlds even started, leaving him still in search of his first gold medal at a global championships.
"I'm still hoping I'll be fit by then. If not, I won't risk it," Powell said, referring to his participation in the 4x100m sprint relay, on the last night of action in Daegu on Sunday.
"It's a strong possibility. There's still a bit of pain. Over the days I have left, I'll be trying to get rid of that pain. But I'm training normally.
"I'll take my decision on Thursday, three days before the race."
Powell, whose 9.78sec is the fastest in the world this year, said Bolt's disqualification from Sunday's 100m final was "the last thing I was expecting."
But he praised Blake, saying: "He's good. Honestly, before the race I didn't know who would win. Everyone was saying Usain, but I wasn't sure because Blake was in better shape than Bolt.
"The time was a very fast time because he ran it in -1.4m/s windspeed so that may have been 9.78 or 9.79sec.
"I think it's just anxiety, Usain trying to get a flyer, to get in front from early because he's not in the best shape of his life.
"If you really look back on the replay, you can see Blake moving. Bolt was watching Blake," said Powell, 28.
"I don't like this rule (instant disqualification for a false start) but it's better than the first one because with the first one guys would just fly out intentionally."
Powell predicted that Bolt would hit back in the 200m, in which he is also the defending world champion. The 200m gets under way on Friday.
"It's Usain's race because he's been running the best times. I don't know what kind of shape (Panama's Alonso) Edward is in but he did great in 2009 so hopefully he can come back and do well."
Edward won silver at the Berlin worlds but has battling injury and his form is unknown.
"Bolt's going to be very concentrated on this event. This one is easier because there's no one beside him. He's in a lane by himself. There won't be any problems like there were in the 100m."
Bolt is the 100m and 200m Olympic champion and is the record holder in both events.