Tyrone Wilson, Gleaner WriterASAFA POWELL'S record-breaking achievement is inspiring junior athletes competing at the JAAA Supreme Ventures National Championships this weekend.
The youngsters are competing for places on the Jamaican squad to participate at World Youth Championship at Morocco from July 13-17 and the Junior Pan-Am Games in Canada from July 29-31.
Nineteen-year-old Anneisha McLaughlin, who won four gold medals at this year's VMBS Boys and Girls Championships, said the fastest man alive had encouraged her.
"Asafa Powell's achievements proved that I must believe in myself and to also believe that anything is possible," said McLaughlin ,who grabbed a silver medal at this year's 34th Carifta Games, which were held at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Trinidad in March.
Another junior, Schillonie Calvert, said she too had been inspired by Powell's record run of 9.77 seconds to break the 100 metres record in Athens earlier this month.
"I have always been admiring the way Asafa Powell starts," said Calvert. "His performance has motivated me a lot for the past three weeks," she said.
Calvert, 16, has the second fastest 200 metres time of 23.44 as a junior this year.
Calvert is now aiming to become the fastest junior by breaking the world record in that section.
Calvert, who hauled in three gold medals and one silver at this year's Boys and Girls Champs said her main focus is the World Youth Championship because it is a bigger competition than the Pan-Am Games.
