The three day
National Senior Track and Field Championships gets underway Friday at the
National Stadium and former world record holder Asafa Powell says despite an
early season struggle with injury, he is confident of qualifying for the IAAF
World Championships in Berlin, Germany in August.
Since picking up an ankle injury in April, Powell has looked a shadow of his old self, posting a season's best of 10.07 seconds which is way off his personal best of an incredible 9.72 seconds.
But the former world says he is not worried heading into the meet.
"I'm just going out there to qualify, I'm not in any rivalry ... I mean Usain (Bolt) is in good shape (while) I'm just coming back from injury so I'm just going out there to qualify for the World Champs," he said.
And even with growing doubts about his ability to deliver on the big stage, Powell said he has the confidence to strike gold in Berlin.
"There are times when things can look very rough but right now I'm not focusing on any injury, just trying to get myself ready for the World Champs because I know I can be on top there," said Powell.
Action in the national senior trials gets should start at about 5pm Friday and RJR's Television Jamaica and HITZ92FM will have live coverage.
Four finals will be contested on the opening day.
Bolt focusing on 200ms at national trials
In the meantime, world triple record holder Usain Bolt says he plans to use this weekend's national trials to get in shape and will be putting more emphasis on the 200 metres.
Bolt is down to run the 100 and 200 metre races for a place on Jamaica's team to the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany from August 15 to 23.
The sprinter says it will be an interesting 100 metre race as "Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson, Michael Frater, Steve Mullings and others (who are) competing in the 100 meters (are clocking) sub10 (times)".
Since picking up an ankle injury in April, Powell has looked a shadow of his old self, posting a season's best of 10.07 seconds which is way off his personal best of an incredible 9.72 seconds.
But the former world says he is not worried heading into the meet.
"I'm just going out there to qualify, I'm not in any rivalry ... I mean Usain (Bolt) is in good shape (while) I'm just coming back from injury so I'm just going out there to qualify for the World Champs," he said.
And even with growing doubts about his ability to deliver on the big stage, Powell said he has the confidence to strike gold in Berlin.
"There are times when things can look very rough but right now I'm not focusing on any injury, just trying to get myself ready for the World Champs because I know I can be on top there," said Powell.
Action in the national senior trials gets should start at about 5pm Friday and RJR's Television Jamaica and HITZ92FM will have live coverage.
Four finals will be contested on the opening day.
Bolt focusing on 200ms at national trials
In the meantime, world triple record holder Usain Bolt says he plans to use this weekend's national trials to get in shape and will be putting more emphasis on the 200 metres.
Bolt is down to run the 100 and 200 metre races for a place on Jamaica's team to the IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany from August 15 to 23.
The sprinter says it will be an interesting 100 metre race as "Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake, Marvin Anderson, Michael Frater, Steve Mullings and others (who are) competing in the 100 meters (are clocking) sub10 (times)".
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