Powell to put international career back on track in Melbourne

The longanticipated return of men's 100m World record holder Asafa Powell to international athletics competition will come in a matter of weeks, according to the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association.

Powell, just 24 years old, was struck down by a groin injury in June last year, a fortnight after running 9.77 seconds for the men's 100m in Athens, Greece, when he captured one of most sought after descriptions in world sport, that of ‘the fastest man in the world’.

Now it has been confirmed that Powell, who has competed in three races (two relays) in Jamaica this year (28 Jan Kingston, 400m 48.28 PB; 11 Feb Montego Bay 4x100m 38.87 and 4x400m 3:08.18) will contest the 100m at next month's XVIII Commonwealth Games.

Powell, favoured for gold, is among the most notable male athlete announced Tuesday in a 47-member Jamaica athletics team that will compete 15-26 March in the southern Australian city of Melbourne.

Campbell and Smith lead women’s squad

Olympic women's 200m champion Veronica Campbell and World women's Triple Jump champion Trecia-Kaye Smith head the Jamaican women’s team. Campbell sped to glory at the Athens Games in 2004, and with a Commonwealth-best time of 22.84 indoors at Birmingham last week, is a form gold contender, as is Smith, a winner in Helsinki last year, who produced had a World leading 14.75m performance this month.

2002 Commonwealth women’s 100m Hurdles champion Lacena Golding-Clarke leads a powerful group of hurdlers, including World Championship medallists Delloreen Ennis-London and Brigitte Foster-Hylton.

Powell is joined in the men’s 100m by World Championship silver medallist Michael Frater, and former World Junior champion Usain Bolt will contest the men’s 200m.

As one of just four Commonwealth men over 20m in Shot Put so far this season, Dorian Scott will feel good about his chances of taking a medal. Central American and Caribbean record holder Korene Hinds and Mardrea Hyman will also be confident of doing well in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase. Maurice Smith will also have high expectations in men’s Decathlon.

Terry Finisterre for the IAAF

Peta-Gaye Dowdie (100m; 4x100m), Veronica Campbell (200m; 4x100m), Sheri-Ann Brooks (200m; 4x100m), Sherone Simpson (200m; 4x100m), Ronetta Smith (400m; 4x400m), Lorraine Fenton (400m; 4x400m), Shericka Williams (400m; 4x400m), Shellene Williams (400m; 4x400m), Novlene Williams (400m; 4x400m), Michelle Balletine (800m), Kenia Sinclair (800m), Deloreen Ennis-London (100m Hurdles), Brigitte Foster-Hylton (100m Hurdles), Lacena Golding-Clarke (100m Hurdles), Shavon Stoddart (400m Hurdles), Korine Hinds (3000m Steeplechase), Madrea Hyman (3000m Steeplechase), Arieta Martin (Marathon), Daniele Browning (4x100m), Sandie Richards (4x400m), Karen Beautle (High Jump), Elva Goulbourne (Long Jump), Trecia-Kaye Smith (Triple Jump), Olivia McKoy (Javelin)

MEN:

Asafa Powell (100m; 4x100m), Winston Smith (100m; 4x100m), Ainsley Waugh (100m; 4x100m), Michael Frater (100m; 4x100m), Omar O. Brown (200m), Christopher Williams (200m), Usain Bolt (200; 4x400m), Michael Blackwood (400m; 4x400m),  Davian Clarke (400m; 4x400m), Germaine Gonzales (400m; 4x400m Relay), Andrew Gutzmore (Marathon), Christopher Pinnock (110m Hurdles), Maurice Wignall (110m Hurdles), Kemel Thompson (400m Hurdles), Dean Griffiths (400m Hurdles), Ian Weakley (400m Hurdles), Lerone Clarke (4x100m), Lansford Spence (4x400m), Lansford Davis (4x400m), James Beckford (Long Jump), Wilbert Walker (Triple Jump), Dorian Scott (Shot Put), Maurice Smith (Decathlon).