The fact that the fastest man in history now comes from the Caribbean region could prove to be a huge, inspirational boost to track and field in Cayman.
According to Cayman national track and field coach Kenrick Williams, Jamaican Asafa Powell’s smashing of the 100-metre world record on Tuesday has already made a big impression on budding track stars in this country.
‘Most of our sprinters are elated,’ he says.
Coach William says that one of Cayman’s top young sprinters, 16-year-old Kemar Hyman, inspired by the event, has already said that by the time he is 22 he too hopes to break the world record.
In clocking a time of 9.77 seconds at the Tsiklitiria Super Grand Prix meeting in Greece on Tuesday, Jamaica’s Powell shaved one-hundredth of a second off the 9.78 mark set by America’s Tim Montgomery in Paris in 2002.
Mr. Williams says he has known for some time that it was within Powell’s grasp to snatch the record.
‘I spoke to him in May and he said he was feeling good and that it was just a matter of time before he got the world record,’ says Mr. Williams.
‘I am impressed by his attitude and it was a fantastic run.’
‘I had a feeling he would get the world record but not this early,’ Mr. Williams says..
‘He is just 22 and if he is running this fast at that age he can only get better.’
‘It’s a huge thing for this region,’ Mr. Williams says.
‘I just hope that this achievement will have a spin off through the region and in particular in the Cayman Islands as it affects our sprinting,’ he says.
‘I think it will bring people into track and field and spur on our best to try and achieve a bit more and put more into training.’
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