By Gary Smith (World-Track)

KINGSTON — Former world record holder Asafa Powell says he is close to full recovery from an ankle injury and is looking forward to running faster times this season.

"I’d say I’m 90 per cent ready right now," Powell was quoted as telling the Jamaican Observer. "Everything is looking smooth right now because I’m trying not to make any more bad decisions.

"I made a bad decision to run at the Penn Relays, but now I’m just working, training hard and trying to get back the ankle to 100 per cent," he added.

Powell pulled out of the Qatar Super Grand Prix meeting in Doha earlier this month with a left ankle injury, but is confident he will be ready in time to run at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York City on May 30.

I want to go there and put down a benchmark because the fastest time for the year is 10-flat and that’s really nothing right now, so I want to go below that and continue from there, remaining on top," Powell said.

The 2007 World 100m bronze medallist from Osaka, also said he is looking forward to meeting fellow countryman Usain Bolt.

"I’m really looking forward to competing with him this year because he did well last year and he knows that I’m still here breathing down his back and he can’t make any mistakes," Powell said.

He also took the time to congratulate Bolt on his sparkling run best run in the 150m at the Bupa City Games in Manchester on Sunday.

Bolt destroyed a strong field on his he way to running a world record of 14.35 seconds, but Powell believes the 100m/200m world record holder still has more in the tank.

"It was a very good run. I’m sure he can do better because he’s just coming back (after his car accident), and he still represented well," he said.

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