Asafa Powell of Jamaica crosses the line to win the men's 100m final at the IAAF World Athletics Final at Louis II Stadium in Monte-Carlo yesterday. Powell won in a time of 9.98 seconds. - Reuters
IT'S OVER. World top-class 100-metre men's sprinting came to an end yesterday at the World Athletics Final in Monaco's Stade Louis II Stadium with Jamaica's Asafa Powell proclaiming: "I am the best."
Powell made the statement after victory in a Championship record 9.98 seconds, leaving Olympic Games silver medallist Francis Obikwelu of Portugal (10.10) and Aziz Zakari of Ghana (10.15) in his wake.
"This victory today shows the world that I am the best and I should have won in Athens," the Stephen Francis-coached athlete, who pocketed US$30,000 for yesterday's win, told the IAAF website.
Although he failed at the Olympic Games in Athens last month, Powell, who holds the national record with his 9.87 run over two weeks ago, is by far the most consistent male sprinter in the world this year.
Apart from beating former Olympic champion Maurice Greene, who once held the world record, twice this season slowing down in London and Zurich, Powell's 100m record was astounding this year. Six of his times (9.87, 9.91, 9.91, 9.93, 9.94 and 9.95) are listed among the top 20. He also recorded the most sub-10 clockings nine one more than Greene, Shawn Crawford (six), Olympic Games champion Justin Gatlin (four) and Obikwelu (three).
Those performances placed him at the top of the IAAF World Event Ranking, a position he will defend next season.
ISSUES WARNING
In closing off a glorious season, Powell warned he will avenge his Olympic loss at the World Championships next year in Helsinki, Finland.
"I am the World No., 1 now. It all bodes well for next year and I believe I can win the world title in Helsinki," Powell told the site.
Powell, a student at the Univer-sity of Technology (UTech), said he is ready to return home after a long season but is still focused on today's 200m on the second and final day of the World Athletics Final.
"I am very tired and ready to go home after such a long season, but I am looking forward to today's race (200m)," said Powell.
"Although I didn't win a medal at the Olympic Games, I am really happy with my season," he said earlier in the week.
"I have run nine times under 10 seconds and this means a lot to me. Athens was my first Olympics so I am pleased I made it to the final and finished fifth. I am still young and have time ahead of me to improve on that result."
When asked who he supported for today's announcement of the 'World Athlete of the Year', Powell said: "Veronica Campbell for her three medals in Athens."
