Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
FASUBA
JAMAICAN ASAFA Powell will line up against Olusoji Fasuba of Nigeria when he tries to regain his title as the world's fastest man in Oslo, Norway, on June 2.
Fasuba, who ran the race of his life - 9.84 seconds, which was instrumental in American Justin Gatlin crossing the line in a new world record, 9.76 seconds at the Doha meeting in Qatar on Friday - will be expected to give Powell the push he needs to regain the world record.
Apart from Olu Fasuba of Nigeria, World Championships 100m silver medallist Michael Frater, who was in the race when Powell set the previous world record of 9.77 in Athens last June, is again listed for this event.
LEAGUE KICK-OFF
The Oslo meeting marks the opening of the IAAF Golden League 2006, which this year kicks off in the famous and newly-rebuilt Bislett Stadium, which reopened last year.
Powell, an easy winner of Commonwealth Games 100m in Melbourne in March where he practically jogged 10.03 seconds, returned to run 10.10 at Penn Relays and 9.95 at the Jamaica International Invitational on May 6.
The Oslo meeting will be Powell's first race to regain his title, which he said he will get back sooner than later.
After saying on several occasions that "Gatlin borrowed the record," Powell has made it clear that "the plan is just to regain my title as soon as possible."
WILL HAPPEN SOON
The 23-year-old next race will be at the Bislett Games in Oslo on June 3.
"I'm not sure if it's the next time I touch the track, but it will happen soon," he predicted.
However, coach Stephen Francis said his athlete will not break the record until July.
"... I don't think he'll break it there because of the weather, but in Athens on July 3 or in Paris July 10 the record will fall," Francis was quoted as saying.
