Powell says Bolt's 9.7 run could bring sprint relay world record
Tuesday May 20, 2008

By Gary Smith

KINGSTON -- With Usain Bolt's magically fast 100-metre dash performance at the Jamaica International Invitational in Kingston, World record holder in the event, Asafa Powell, believes the country stands a great chance of breaking USA's 4x100m relay world record.

Powell, at 9.74-seconds and Bolt (9.76), are the two fastest men ever to run the dash and the record holder who won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, last year, believes the sixteen-year-old record of 37.40, set at the Olympic Games in Barcelona, could be in danger.

"The world record can go for sure with two guys running 9.7 and we (Jamaica) have other athletes out there capable of running sub-10," Powell told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday.

"So we have a great chance of breaking the world record."

Powell, who injured a chest muscle while lifting weights, has returned to training and he said he hasn't "lost anything."