New 100-metre world record holder Asafa Powell (second left) with his parents Cislin Powell (left), father William Powell and niece Vanica at the Norman Manley International Airport shortly after Asafa's arrival from Greece on Wednesday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Orangefield is a small farming district located just outside Linstead in St Catherine. And as the name suggests, the main crop is the delightful citrus fruit, the orange.

But the quiet rural settlement has produced more than just the ripened, juicy fruits; it has spawned a couple of Olympians - brothers Donovan and Asafa Powell.

The youngest of the Powell brood at 22, Asafa is today being hailed as the fastest man in history, having clocked 9.77 seconds in the 100-metres on Tuesday in Athens, Greece. Powell broke the world record of 9.78 set by the American Tim Montgomery in Paris three years ago, at the very venue where he finished a disappointing fifth in the 100m final at the Olympic Games last year.

To be deemed the fastest man on earth is a big hat to wear, and a visit to Asafa's family home in humble Orangefield tells a tremendous story that from simple beginnings, great things can emerge.

On the three-and-a-half-mile drive from the Linstead main road to Orangefield, the lush greenery, obviously nourished by the recent rains, pleased the eye. The setting was highlighted by orange orchards - a picture of beauty and old country charm though the fruits are not yet in their ripened state of bright orange.

En route, there were a couple of steep inclines which, Sporting World later learnt, were often used by Asafa and his brothers to build muscles and fitness, as they either jogged or engaged in many friendly sprint battles.

It can be argued that growing up in such humble, but pleasant surroundings, guided on to the straight and narrow by deeply religious parents, provided the foundation for the spawning of a champion.

William and Cislin Powell - the parents of Asafa - are decent and simple folk who worked hard to raise their six children, all boys. Two of those - Michael and Vaughn - have passed away, leaving Donovan (a former Olympian), Nigel, Ricardo and Asafa.

The Powells were strict parents who did not give their boys much room to stray and who did not spare the rod in cases where it was necessary to keep them in line.

"We were very strict parents, maybe too strict. My kids were never allowed to go to dances and shows and those places, and anywhere they wanted to go they would have to get the okay from me. Their mother couldn't make a decision like that on her own," said the senior, now pastor at Redemption National Church of God in the district.

William Powell said all his kids grew up in the church and even told how Asafa used to play the bass guitar and the drums. And although Asafa spends a lot of time in Kingston these days for school and training, when he comes to Orangefield, church is a must.

"...He doesn't go to church so often these days because he is in Kingston, but when he comes here he is under strict guidelines and has to go," William said.

William and Cislin remember their youngest son as a quiet lad who was shy.

"He was very shy as a little boy and did not talk much. But he was curious and was always around me when I am fixing the car, and after a time he could pull anything off the vehicle," beamed the proud dad.

Cislin recalled how Asafa used to love to be loved, and even as an adult, he still seeks that motherly love.

"Asafa was the one who would always be in my arms, even now as a big man when he comes home the first thing he does is spread out in my arms and I have to remind him that he is not a child anymore," she said, smiling.

Growing up with five elder brothers shaped Asafa into a competitive dynamo, a virtue that he has kept with him until this day.

"From a little boy Asafa had a competitive spirit. We used to have a lot of races on the street here, and from then he showed potential and wanted to race against us, his bigger brothers. In fact, he beat Vaughn, whom he follows," recollects older brother Nigel, who now teaches music at Charlemont High School in the parish.

"He loved track and field from he was young and he wanted to emulate Donovan, so I am not surprised that he set the new record...," added Nigel.

At Charlemount High, Asafa was king, but did not receive his crowning moments there, as explained by his father: "I heard then that he was the best at Charlemount and I went to watch him and saw right away that he had potential.

"Then, he ran everything from 100, 200 and 400m, and he had no competition as he (virtually) walked past the other runners," said Reverend William.

"But nobody knew of him, so I tried to get him into St Jago, but that did not work out, so a good friend of mine named Mrs Frazer got him to go to Jose Marti to do some training in the evenings, and then from there he went to UTech (where he is still a student) and it was there he developed," noted Powell Snr.

Before the race at the Tsiklitiria Super Grand Prix where Asafa smashed Montgomery's record, William Powell said he whispered a prayer for his son. "In my last prayer, I said to God, 'Lord, it is you who gives people talent and Asafa has a determination to break the world record and I leave it in your hands'," said the 58 year-old.

William said his son told him he was going for the record and said he has gotten into the habit of believing Asafa's promises. "When he tells you that he is going to do something, count on him, he is going to do it," he said.

"I am proud of Asafa and what he has been doing and he makes me feel good that right here (Orangefield) we have the fastest man in the world. That he is my last son makes me especially proud...," he added.

For Reverend Powell, his dream is to see his son win the Olympic gold medal.

Cislin, too, was overwhelmed with pride when she got the news that her son was the world's fastest man. "When my phone rang and it was my son Donovan who was on the phone and (he) told me... I just said, 'Thank you, Jesus...'," she said.

"From here I just want to see him go to the sky and with prayer he can do it...," she added.

Brother Nigel is of the opinion that Asafa's shortcoming at the Olympics last year might have been a blessing in disguise. "Not winning a medal in the Olympics did a lot for Asafa, I believe.

"Losing out there motivated him to go after the world record, and now all I want for him is that he continues to strive for excellence, as I believe that he has not reached his full potential yet," he said.

The Powell family, like many in Jamaica, knows tragedy and suffering, but it is their devout belief in God and a close family bond that has kept them in the race of life.

Brother Michael was murdered in a cab in New York, while Vaughn collapsed and died on a football field in Georgia. Reverend Powell, too, was shot in his jaw some years ago at his home in a robbery attempt, and pointed to the bullet hole that remains on his front door.

All these tragic incidents in the lives of the Powells terribly affected Asafa, but the young man kept his mark.
"He is a good guy and he has a big heart," said his father.

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