Jamaica’s former world record holder Asafa Powell returns to the indoor track with a bang when he makes his New York indoor debut at the 2012 US Open Track & Field on January 28 at Madison Square Garden, USA Track & Field announced today.
As the sprinter who has run the 100m under 10secs. more than anyone in history—some 80 times in total—Powell will make his first appearance in New York since he ran the 2009 Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium and his first time competing indoors since 2004.
The 29-year-old Jamaican held the title of world’s fastest human for three years, when he owned the 100m world record between June 2005 and May 2008, with times of 9.77 and 9.74 seconds, respectively, until his countryman Usain Bolt broke it with 9.72 in New York. He was part of the Jamaican 4x100m relay team that broke the world record at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before it was broken again this year at the Daegu World Championships without him.
Also returning to The Garden, where she easily won the 2011 Visa Women’s 60m dash, is World and Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown (VCB). She is among the most consistent and decorated short sprinters of her generation, and her resume reads like a Who’s Who among sprinting legends: two-time defending Olympic 200m gold medalist; defending World Indoor 60m champion; 2011 World 200m Outdoor champion; 2007 World 100m Outdoor champion.
VCB’s additional international hardware includes a bronze medal in the 100m at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and silver in the 2000 Olympic 4x100m. She has won a total of seven silver medals at the World Outdoor Championships, dating back to 2005.
The kick-off event of USATF’s Visa Championship Series, the U.S. Open, will be the first track meet to be held in the newly renovated Garden, and will be the first major professional meet in the United States as the 2012 Olympic year gets under way.