Sport

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC):

Former World 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell has been confirmed for next month's 49th Golden Spike in Ostrava, the first time in five years he will run at the meet.

He will contest the 100 metres at the May 27 event, where he will attempt to overhaul the 9.85 seconds he clocked on a rainy night in the Czech Republic metropolis back in 2005.

While organisers did not announce his competition, Powell said he was eyeing a fast time, especially with his early season training going as well as it was.

"So far, training is going great; there haven't been any injuries," the 27-year-old Jamaican sprinter said. "We've been doing great things in training so I can say it's going perfect."

He added: "I'm coming there to give my best so if my best is better than that (time I ran in 2005) I'll be very happy."

Wind-assisted

Powell will also be after compatriot Usain Bolt's pacy, wind-assisted meet record of 9.77 seconds set last year.

He conceded that since 2005, the face of sprinting had changed significantly with Bolt setting astonishing world records, but warned he could produce something special.

"Watch out for Asafa Powell. I'll be coming there full force, rain or snow or cold I'll be coming there to run really fast," Powell said.

His last run in Ostrava five years ago seemed to inspire Powell, as he broke the world record in Athens in his next race, clocking 9.77 seconds.

Reflecting on the outing in the inclement weather, he said his 9.85 had been amazing, especially in those conditions.

"To run a time like that in the rain and the cold ... I was feeling pretty confident after that," he recalled.

Powell will have to share the headlines with Bolt who is already down to run the 300 metres at the meet.

The women's 100 metres, meanwhile, will see a clash between Jamaican Sherone Simpson and Laverne Jones-Ferrette of the United States Virgin Islands.

Simpson won silver in the 100 metres at the Beijing Olympics, while Jones-Ferrette is the world indoor 60m silver medallist.