Eton Tucker, Assistant Sports Editor

MVP TRACK Club coach Stephen Francis said yesterday that his star athlete, former world 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell, may be forced to run "faster than he would normally like" at this weekend's National Senior Championships to secure an automatic qualifying place for the Beijing Olympics.

Speaking after an early morning training session for his track and field club at the Stadium East field yesterday, Francis predicted that two of his charges, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter, would go below 10 seconds, and that Powell, in order to beat them, will also have to run fast.

The top three in the event qualify for individual spots at the Olympics.

"Unavoidably, I think both Michael Frater and Nesta Carter are going to run extremely fast. They are going to run under 10 seconds this weekend. So, of course, that means that if Asafa (Powell) wants to make the team he has to run fast, faster than he would normally like. His goal will be to beat Frater and Carter and not necessarily anybody else," Francis said.

Downplay clash

Francis and Powell have both downplayed the likelihood of a big clash with world record holder Usain Bolt at the three-day meet.

Powell, who was present but did not train at the Stadium East yesterday morning, said his main aim was to finish the meet healthy.

"There will be no clash. We (Bolt and himself) will be in the final but I won't be racing against anybody. I will be running just to make sure I finish in the top three .... whether first, second or third," Powell said.

The first heat of the men's 100m will be run at 7:25 this evening while the final is set for 7:55 p.m. tomorrow.

Turning to the other members of his track club, Francis said he expected a number of marvellous performances.

"From the appearance of the past two weeks, I expect this to be a very special trials for us," he said. "I have very few injury worries, only Kaliese Spencer, but I think she is still in good enough shape to get on to the (Jamaica) team."

'Only problem'

Spencer injured her hip in California on April 18 while clocking a personal best 50.55 for 400m. Francis said the 2006 World Junior 400m hurdles champion's training has been patchy since then.

"But she is getting good treatment now and she is getting better. I think she is in good enough condition to still make the Olympic team. She's the only problem we have.

"Sherone (Simpson) will run very well. Technically, she looks very good. I have a young sprinter, Shelly-Ann Frazer, who is going to surprise a whole lot of people. I don't know how far the surprise is going to go but she is going to surprise a lot.

"Hurdler Brigitte (Foster-Hylton) is in excellent shape, the best I have seen her. Shericka (Williams), I think, is going to come close to breaking the national record (400m) very soon.

"The 400m hurdler Melaine (Walker) is in excellent form, looking very well, while Makino Buckley in the men's 400m hurdles looks good," Francis said.