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News from the Caribbean as of
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Bahamian sprinter Atkins and Powell said to be cousins
Monday, August 14, 2006
by Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com
NASSAU, Bahamas: According to a published report from the Bahamas, the nation's top male sprinter for 2006, Derrick Atkins, is said to be a relative of Jamaican joint-world record holder Asafa Powell.
The 22-year-old Atkins, who won the men's 100-metres at the 4th NACAC under-23 Championships, held at the Felix Sanchez stadium in Santo Domingo in early July is said to be Powell's cousin.
Derrick (Atkins) and co-world record holder Asafa Powell from Jamaica are cousins because her niece is Powell's mother, Gloria Atkins, the mother of the Bahamian sprinter was quoted as saying in the Bahama Journal.
Atkins entered the 2005 season with life-time bests of 10.21 for 100m and 20.86 for the 200m, but quickly improved those marks to 10.08 and 20.69 during the process of this campaign.
At the Central American and Caribbean Games in Cartagena, Columbia, the sprinter powered his way to a remarkable national best of 10.08 seconds in the semi-finals of the dash, before returning to strike the silver behind Churandy Martina from the Netherlands Antilles in the final in 10.13 seconds.
"What Derrick has done is a feat in itself because not many runners can run 10 point zero anything," Harrison Petty, host of a special function held at the Colony Club in honour of the sprinter last Friday, recalled.
"From thee if athletes continue to apply themselves it is very likely that they can go below the 10 second barrier, and that has been his goal for quite sometime."
Atkins said his goal as an athlete is not only to run fast on the track, but to also cement a strong foundation academically, which he knows will only come with a few sacrifices.
"So far it’s been a great ride, but it's not over for me yet, because I still have some things I need to do. In addition to my track and field aspirations I’m still working on getting my degree.
"But for you younger athletes out there just keep your head up and keep striving for the sky because there is no limit to what you can do. Despite the ups and downs you have to stay disciplined and sacrifice," he said.
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