Powell throws down gauntlet - Pledges to match Bolt stride for stride

STUTTGART, Germany (CMC):

Despite his huge flop in the 100 metres at the Beijing Olympics last month, Jamaican Asafa Powell says he is enjoying his sprinting more than ever and has promised to continue to match Usain Bolt's record-breaking feats.

Powell entered the 29th Olympiad as one of the heavy favourites to take gold in the marquee event but could only manage a hugely disappointing fifth as Bolt won the event in a World record 9.69 seconds.

Personal best

Since then, Powell blazed to a personal best 9.72 seconds at a meet in Lausanne, Switzerland earlier this month, to send a stern message to his rivals.

"It's very exciting. Right now is the most I've really enjoyed the sport so much. To have someone from Jamaica who's so fast to run against is very exciting. It motivates me to go and train harder than ever before. I'm really excited about it," Powell said.

"When I ran 9.74 I thought it (record) would be (lowered to) 9.69. Then when Usain ran 9.69 after stopping 20 metres before the finish ... it's obviously possible to go even faster. Wherever Usain takes it, I'll be there right with him."

Sensational runner

Powell has been one of the most sensational runners in contemporary sprint history but has failed to deliver at major meets.

While he is the only athlete to have gone under 10 seconds as many as 14 times in a single season, he remains haunted by his failures at the Athens Olympics, the World Championships in Osaka, Japan and the recent Olympics.

Powell said while the World record was not on his mind, he believed it would definitely be lowered next year.

"I think 9.6 is possible. I think next year you'll see 9.5."

He clocked 9.87 seconds on Saturday to win here at the World Athletics Final.