asafa, the fastest man alive

[Puck]

this is old news now but asafa powell broke his old 100m world record at a time of 9.74

Powell roars back with world record
MICHAEL BUTCHER

ASAFA Powell and the sleepy Italian backwater of Rieti exploded into life yesterday as the Jamaican made history as the fastest man on Earth by breaking the world record for the 100 metres.

Powell made amends for his Osaka nightmare by roaring to a new milestone time of 9.74 seconds, aided by the almost perfect following wind of 1.7metres per second.

The extraordinary fact about the run was that it was only a semi-final - the final was due 50 minutes later - and not even Powell could have been expecting anything special as he shut down five metres from the tape crossing the line upright and clearly braking. His manner changed when he saw the time, though. Naturally shy, the 25-year-old allowed himself the almost embarrassed comment: "That's what happens when I listen to my coach."

That implies that he was not listening to his coach, Steven Francis, in Osaka two weeks ago when he threw away the 100m final and even gave up, on his own admission, the fight for silver.

In Rieti, 50 minutes later in the final, Powell almost repeated the feat when he won in what must be regarded as a better time of 9.78 with a nil wind. This time he ran all the way to the line and had he had just the gentlest of breezes behind him he would have gone close to 9.70. Not only has he broken the world record but recorded the greatest double in the history of track and field.

"I've been working on a few things with my coach and correcting some things," said Powell. "I'd like to say to my fans that Asafa Powell is back." The time of 9.74 erases the embarrassing stalemate for the International Association of Athletics Federations that, until Rieti, Powell shared the world record of 9.77 with America's Justin Gatlin who is involved in a lengthy court case to clear his name of doping. But one thing Powell's run does not dispel is the sensation that he is not a championship runner. In the 2003 world championships he was disqualified for a false start after setting the fastest time in the heats. In the Athens Olympics he failed to deliver when he was touted as the favourite and could finish no higher than fifth and in the Osaka world championships he was beaten by American Tyson Gay. But in Rieti, on a sunny Sunday afternoon with the Lombardy poplars bathed in sunshine, Powell was in his element, running in a small meeting with nothing to trouble him except the clock.

Powell had run 9.77 three times before, first in Athens 2005, then in Gateshead 2006 followed that same summer by Zurich a few weeks later. Gatlin had only run the time once, in Doha 2006, and with the same following wind that Powell enjoyed yesterday. So for many, Powell was already the fastest man alive because he had enjoyed a lesser following wind in his three 9.77s. Now, though, he has left no room for argument.

Fastest men in world
Past five world record holders for the 100m:

• Carl Lewis (USA) 9.86 seconds

in Tokyo 1991

• Leroy Burrell (USA) 9.85

in Lausanne 1994

• Donovan Bailey (Can) 9.84

in Atlanta 1996

• Maurice Greene (USA) 9.79

in Athens 1999

• Asafa Powell (Jam) 9.77

in Athens 2005

• Asafa Powell 9.74

in Rieti 2007

This article: http://sport.scotsman.com/athletics.cfm?id=1444662007

[Sohel]

Fastest alive ... or dead as far as we know ... 9.74 ! ... my fastest in HS was 12.0 and I was considered pretty fast ...

[Gowza]

12 flat is pretty fast, most of the top guys in my high school were running low 11s or high 10s (i think my fastest was high 11s but don't remember the exact time). but we had a kid who was running low 12s in year 7 (age 12 or 13), not sure what times he was doing by year twelve but it must have been pretty fast.

[Dhruvo]

i am the fastest guy in my class,this guy must be very fast i wanna race with him once lol and defeat him

[Puck]

dhrubo, you need to eat well, sleep well and work on your start! if you are to become a successful athlete i should like to be your manager. should we draw up a contract now?

[Dhruvo]

Originally Posted by Puck
dhrubo, you need to eat well, sleep well and work on your start! if you are to become a successful athlete i should like to be your manager. should we draw up a contract now?

hahaha yeah i would love too lol but i am a bit young for a contract now lol maybe later

[Dhruvo]

okay I just qualified in the atletics event and topped the qualification round on 1st,I just hope I win it tomorrow,tomorrow is the main event.

[Nafis_BD]

Congratulations Dhrubo!!

Good luck for tomorrow.

[Dhruvo]

Originally Posted by Nafis_BD
Congratulations Dhrubo!!

Good luck for tomorrow.

thanks nafis bhaiya.

[Yasin]

Dhrubo - the main event is over by now. Whats the result?

[Dhruvo]

Originally Posted by Yasin
Dhrubo - the main event is over by now. Whats the result?

Oh yeah it was just over,well they didnt organize a race they organized a time trail kinda thing and from those they shall pick one,i dont know the result yet but i will post it ASAP

[al Furqaan]

i ran the 100m once and had a terrible time, 13+

but in my prime i could run a 25 second 200 meter dash

[Dhruvo]

yay! i topped the 400 meters race today and my time was 56 seconds.