Powell and Bolt Face Off in Paris
Friday will see the 2010 season’s first duel between Jamaican 100m sprinters Asafa Powell and Usain Bolt, who are set to race head-to-head at the IAAF Diamond League Meeting in Paris.
The pair shares this year’s fastest time in the event, having both finished in 9.82 seconds this summer.
Bolt, 23, is undefeated in both the 100m and 200m events since July 22, 2008. Then, it was his countryman Powell who edged on top at a meeting between the two in Stockholm.
Since 2008, Bolt holds the world records in both distances. In the 100m final of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bolt improved his previous record of 9.72 seconds to 9.69 seconds.
Only four days later, Bolt beat US sprint legend Michael Johnson’s strong 200m world record time of 19.32 seconds by finishing in 19.30 seconds in the 200m final.
In what proved to be equally incredible and unlikely feat, Bolt improved both times significantly at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin one year later, clocking in at 9.58 and 19.19 seconds respectively.
This season, Bolt opened with a 100m time of 9.86 seconds in Daegu, South Korea, before having to refrain from competing due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Upon his competitive return in Lausanne on July 8, another of the Diamond League Meetings this season, Bolt finished the 100m event in 9.82 seconds.
Despite admitting to feeling slight pain in his Achilles, Bolt had managed to run the fastest 100m race this year.
Powell, who clocked the same time in Rome on June 10, has also shown signs of his form beginning to peak this season.
On Friday, he will seek to beat Bolt in their thrilling duel, just as he did two years ago.
Powell Known to Struggle in Finals
Despite holding the world record for just under three years between 2005 and 2008, Powell’s career has been plagued by an inability to pounce in the finals of major tournaments.
In both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, Powell made it through to the 100m final, only to finish in 5th place both times.
Powell did claim an Olympic gold in Beijing two years ago, but it came in the 4x100 relay, which carries less prestige than the solo distances.
At the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, in 2007, world record holder Powell gave in to US sprinter Tyson g*y’s challenge, seemingly giving up on the race after 60m and finishing third overall.
Friendly Competition
Powell, who maintains a good friendship with his 100m rival, has said to be looking forward to the race, but that the topic has been avoided in his conversations with Bolt.
“I've talked to Usain a lot recently but talking about racing is a no-no,” the 27-year-old recently told the press.
“We just talk about other stuff. We both know it will be tight in Paris. It should be very fast and it should be interesting — let's hope for the best.”
With no global tournaments taking place this year, the recently established Diamond League Meetings are the most prestigious athletics meetings of the season.
Like Powell, Bolt has been eagerly anticipating the race, saying that it’s likely the two sprinters will push each other to beating their best times this season.
"On Friday I think we will see a serious race as Asafa said he is ready for me," Bolt recently told the press, hinting that the conversations between the pair at least allude to racing from time to time.
"I haven't competed against him yet this season. He is in great shape. He has been injury free and consistent around 9.8 seconds," said Bolt, who hopes to record a time of 9.70 or slightly over in Friday’s highly anticipated race.
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