Asafa Powell said he hopes to set a personal best 100 metres time at tomorrow’s Diamond League meet in Shanghai, despite a hamstring injury that led to a last-place 200m finish a week ago.
The former world record holder said he started out fast at the beginning of the 2010 season, clocking a heat time of 9.75sec a year ago in Doha, and the start of this season could be even better.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing what I can do,” Powell told reporters.
“Hopefully I’ll run a personal best. I opened very fast in Doha and my coach says I’m in better shape than I was last year.”
Powell has an ambitious season ahead where he will square off with both his rivals – fellow Jamaican Usain Bolt and American Tyson Gay – before the World Championships in August.
Bolt holds the world record with a time of 9.58, while Powell’s personal best is 9.72.
Powell’s showdown with Bolt is set for May 26 in Rome and he is due to race Gay in Birmingham on July 10 and London on August 5-6. Bolt and Gay are not scheduled to race each other.