Is Asafa Powell about to turn the Corner?

Jamaica's Asafa Powell is perhaps the most prolific sprinter in track and field history and has over 75 sub-10 100m performances throughout his career. Powell has a personal best 9.72 seconds in the 100m and 19.90 seconds in the 200m. He is an Olympics gold medalist and world champion in the 4x100m relays and has held the 100m world record. But despite these accomplishments, Powell is notorious for not showing up for the big races and has failed to garner the individual Olympic or World championship 100m title. After failing to impress during the 2012 indoor season, Powell took his show to the outdoors where he was beaten by a determined Justin Gatlin (9.88 vs. 9.87) in Doha. Gatlin in his post-race comment labeled Powell “a runner and not a competitor”. Powell may have been deserving of Gatlin’s wrath as in an earlier press conference he confidently predicted a Jamaican sweep in the men’s 100m in London that obviously upset Gatlin.  But there is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path and Powell has done little to do the later. After Doha, Powell went on to win the 100m in Shanghai (10.02) and finished in 2^nd place in 9.91 seconds in Rome behind Usain Bolt world-leading 9.76 seconds. But on Thursday (June 7)  at the Bislett Games in Oslo, a relaxed and confident Powell ran undoubtedly his best race of the season finishing  in 2^nd place in a season best 9.85 behind Usain Bolt (9.79). Powell time of 9.85 seconds is the 3^rd fastest time in the world this year behind Bolt (9.76) and Yohan Blake (9.82). While the finishing order in Oslo was never in doubt (Bolt finishing ahead of Powell) one has to be impressed with  Powell’s race execution. Powell led for the first 85m and forced Bolt to dig deep for the win. Bolt was also impressed by Powell’s performance and acknowledged Powell’s efforts by tapping him on the shoulder after the race. New Beginning? Now that the dust has settled on Oslo, the question is:  Has Powell turned the corner? Can we expect this kind of effort from Powell for the rest of the season? Can he keep his end of the bargain in terms of a Jamaican sweep? Powell’s tendency of slowing down and not running through the finish-line has in the past cost him many races. Should Powell focus on finishing strong in the latter part of his races, then there will be little concern about him finishing in the top 3 at the Jamaican National Trials and London 2012. Armed with his season best 9.85 seconds, Powell have once again placed himself in discussion as one of the top medal prospects in the men’s 100m in London. However,  only time will tell whether or not Powell has truly turned the corner.