Powell on boards for Olympics

Jamaican Asafa Powell, the former world 100 metres record holder, will race indoors for the first time in eight years as part of his preparations for next year’s Olympics.

The 29-year-old’s programme will include a grand prix meeting on 18 February in Birmingham, where the Jamaican team will be based in the lead-up to the Olympics in July and August.

Powell last raced on the indoor circuit in 2004 and said in a statement yesterday: “My coach and I have been speaking about the ideal preparation for next year’s Olympics and we think doing an indoor season is the best move for me.

“I love competing indoors and to get the opportunity to race in Birmingham is really exciting. The calibre of athletes there has always been strong and, if I’m going to be challenging for medals, I need to be racing against the best opposition all the way up until the Olympics. It’s not long now until the Games so every minute counts.

“I can’t quite believe this will be my first time competing indoors in the UK.”

Powell, who has clocked more sub-10-second times over 100m than any other athlete, is also targeting the world indoor championships in Istanbul in March.

He raced a 9.91-second 100m in Birmingham last July before having to pull out of the Daegu world championships because of injury.

He held the world record from 2005 until 2008 and will face stiff opposition from countrymen Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake as well as Tyson Gay of the United States when he bids for his first individual Olympic gold next year.