After a win in New York, Asafa Powell said Jamaica could grab a clean sweep in the Olympic 100m.
Powell says Jamaica could sweep 100m at Olympics
Asafa Powell showed he could still be a force to reckon with at the Olympics with a victory at the US Open indoor athletics meeting over 50m at Madison Square Garden.
Powell has become almost the forgotten man on the Jamaican sprint team thanks to Usain Bolt and more recently Yohan Blake's exploits, but Poweel is still determined to make an impact.
Powell crossed the finish line in 5.64sec, edging out compatriot Nesta Carter in 5.67sec over the rarely-run 50m distance, but it was a good starting point for his season.
The Jamaican has had trouble with injuries over the last few years but is fully healthy now and was happy to have started the season with a win.
"It was weird but it was a pretty good time for my first race of the season," said Powell. "There's bigger races ahead but that's a good way to begin."
Clean sweep
Powell says that with such firepower in the Jamaican team, they could well grab an amazing clean sweep of the medals at the 100m in London.
"Surely it can be done," said Powell. "We have some amazing runners.
"Nothing's ever certain. Not even for Usain Bolt. To run this well this early in the season is very promising. I'm very fit right now. But I'm still not fast.
"Just making the Jamaican team is going to be hard enough."
Jamaica also have a strong field in the women's 100m, as Veronica Campbell-Brown showed when winning her 50m event in New York.
American hurdler Lolo Jones has had her injury problems having had spinal surgery last summer, but she won the 50m hurdles in her first race of the year.
"My body's adjusting," Jones said. "Every day I see progress. This was my first race ever at Madison Square Garden, so it's a great place to win.
"For me, winning this race is a huge confidence boost. Just a few months ago, after the surgery, I couldn't even walk, now I can run fast.
"It's a step in the right direction. Each race is just a preparation for what's to come this season."
Jones clocked a time of 6.78sec to beat Britain's Tiffany Porter (6.83) and American Kellie Wells (6.84).
