Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer.JPG)
Powell will start year as world No. 1.
WHEN THE 2005 track and field season gets out of the blocks top Jamaican track and field stars Asafa Powell, the number one ranked 100m runner, and World Championship 100 metres hurdles silver medallist and Pan-Am Games champion Brigitte Foster, will have a new agent.
The coach of both athletes, Stephen Francis, who conditioned them at the University of Technology (UTech)-based Maximising Velocity and Power (MVP) Track Club, fired his charges' former agent, Guyanese-born Cubie Seagobin, who represented them last season.
In an exclusive interview with The Gleaner, MVP coach Francis, confirmed the dismissal of Seagobin.
"We are essentially looking for somebody who will enthusiastically develop our young athletes and we figured my changing it would serve that purpose," Francis said.
He said they are "98 per cent" sure of the athletes' new agent but it would be unwise for him to disclose the name of the person until everything was settled.
DEVELOPING YOUNG ATHLETES
"We are looking at the development of the younger athletes and I think this person will be the perfect representative for the job," explained Francis.
The coach, who holds a master's degree in accounting from the University of Michigan, said as members of the NIKE group, Powell and Foster would have to inform the sponsors of such a change.
With Seagobin as his agent, Powell enjoyed a very good début year on the Grand Prix circuit in 2004, recording the most sub-10 clockings (nine): 9.87, 9.91, 9.91, 9.93, 9.94, 9.95, 9.98, 9.99 and 9.99).
On the other hand, Foster, the former national 100m hurdles champion, did not compete much on the circuit last season.
Francis, who guided Powell to the national 100m record of 9.87 and also coaches national high jump record holder Germaine Mason, the Pan American gold medallist, and Sherone Simpson, who finished sixth in the women's 100m final in Athens, said his younger athletes need competition to get to the top.
"The direction Cubie was going was not really emphasising that so that is the reason, not the least on our part, for the switch," Francis said.
"We use Europe as our development area, so we need somebody who is going to facilitate us in the endeavour," added Francis, under whose watch Foster hurdled to the national record of 12.45 seconds.
Seagobin remains the agent for former national sprint double champion Aleen Bailey and World Championship 100m champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis.
