MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It's not everyday an Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder is in your city, let alone at your high school track meet. But for hundreds of Memphians, that was exactly the situation they found themselves in on Saturday morning at Houston high school for the Houston Track and Field Classic.
Asafa Powell — the fourth fastest man in history — manned the Puma tent signing autographs, snapping photos and chatting with aspiring athletes. Powell told ABC24 he thinks it's important for him to give back to the sport that gave so much to him.
"The young kids they need a role model — a positive role model," Powell said. "Track and field is not easy. It's a very difficult sport, and when they see that they can accomplish something — an olympian — I think that gives them the motivation and the drive to really go on and be a positive role model like myself."
Collierville High School 400 and 800 meter runner Tori Evans was one of the hundreds to meet Powell.
"It gives me motivation just like see how hard he worked and be able to realize that when we're running hard at practices and stuff, knowing that he got through it and he's a top athlete ... I can do the same thing.
Powell was in attendance to promote the Houston Classics' event partner, the Ed Murphey Classic which is the second stop on the 2024 PUMA American Track League.
In 2005 Powell held the title of the fastest man on the planet, setting the 100m world record with a blistering time of 9.77 seconds. In 2008 he bested it, running a 9.72, which currently sits as the fourth fastest 100m ever run in the world.
Powell has won 10 gold medals on the world stage, including an Olympic gold medal for the 4x100 m in Rio. Asafa has also broken the 10 second barrier in the 100 m dash a remarkable 97 times which makes him one of the most consistent sprinters of his generation.
Approximately 2500 athletes between middle and high school competed at the Houston Classic, making it one of the largest track and field meets in the state of Tennessee.
The 8th annual Ed Murphey track and field Classic will be held July 10th to 13th here in Memphis and will be categorized as a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event and broadcasted live on Peacock.