Asafa Powell hoping for good 2007 debut in Belgrade

BELGRADE, May 28 (Reuters) Men's world 100 metres record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica wants to clock under 10 seconds in his 2007 debut tomorrow after recovering from a knee injury in April.

''I am looking to run under 10 seconds as I have done in each of my debuts over the past few seasons,'' said Powell, who set his world record of 9.77 seconds in Athens in June 2005.

''The tendinitis is gone and I have trained really well in the past few weeks, so I expect a good performance in my first appearance this season,'' he told reporters.

A strong field in the men's 100 metres of the Artur Takac memorial meet in Belgrade includes Powell's compatriot Michael Frater and Britain's Jason Gardener and Mark Lewis-Francis.

Powell said the field would motivate him to get off to a good start of his build-up to the Aug. 25-Sept. 2 world championships in Osaka.

''I am very excited as everyone wants to see how well I can do early on in the season and I will do my very best to run as fast I can,'' he said.

World number one in the women's 100 metres rankings Sherone Simpson said the Belgrade event was part of her preparations for the world championship trials in Jamaica next month.

''There are a lot of good sprinters in Jamaica and come end of June we will have some very fast times, so this is a good opportunity to prepare for the trials,'' she said.

''I don't really expect to run under 11 seconds in my first race of the season and I will be very happy if I manage to.'' REUTERS TB KN2042