Great season for Asafa Powell

The 2006 track & field season was definitely Asafa Powell's best ever. Powell's season started with his first major title, the Commonwealth Games 100m crown in March where he ran 10.03 for the win.

As the season progressed, the world 100m record holder continued to break more barriers, including equalling his world record 9.77 twice, in Gateshead on June 11 and in Zurich on August 18. He also clocked the first sub-20 seconds (19.93) on local soil to win the national 200m title on June 27.

Powell who won a share of the US$1m Golden League Jackpot, had a record 12 sub-10 seconds clockings during the year.

"Awesome," was the word Powell used to described the season. "It was a really, really great season," he continued.

"I have nothing to complain about, it was a really great season for me," he added.

Though he became the first Jamaica to win the Golden League for which he collected US$225,000, and running 12-sub 10 seconds, it was the 9.77 run in Gateshead which made the season special for the world's fastest man.

"The highlight was when I surprised myself and ran 9.77 in Gateshead and again in Zurich. Those were really the high points for me," he said.

His record 12-sub 10 seconds times are: 9.77 (twice), 9.85 (twice), 9.86 (twice), 9.89, 9.91, 9.95. 9.96, 9.98 and 9.99, surpassing the record of nine he previously held with American Maurice Green.

Powell's Golden League victories were 9.98 (Oslo); 9.85 (Paris); 9.85 (Roma); 9.77 (Z?rich); 9.99 (Bruxelles) and 9.86 (Berlin).

Towards the end of the season, Powell skipped the 100m at the World Cup, but had earlier won the US$30,000 first prize for his 9.89 run at the World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Germany.