Asafa Powell is the first Jamaican to break the 100 metres world record.

But a number of others have broken or equalled individual and relay world records down the years.

Herb McKenley, Olympic silver medallist in both the 100 and 400 metres, and Donald Quarrie, Olympic 200m champion, produced world record-breaking and record-equalling performances for Jamaica on several occasions.

From 1946 to 1952, McKenley battered the one-lap world marks, while Quarrie, from 1971 to 1976, etched his name as one of the world's most ferocious sprinters.

While McKenley was recognised as the most dominant quarter-miler in his era, his countrymen George Rhoden and Arthur Wint were snapping up reviews not only as record-breakers, but also as Olympic champions.

Quarrie arrived on the scene at a time when Valeriy Borzov, competing for what was then the USSR, was dominating.

Borzov was then the fastest man on the planet, as he was three-time European champion in the 100 metres, and took the sprint double (100 and 200 metres) at the 1972 Olympic Games.

All the Jamaican record holders, until Powell, were training overseas at the height of their success.

Powell, a student of the University of Technology (UTECH) and a member of the MVP track club, is trained by local-based coach Stephen Francis.

Jamaica's world record performers

. Herb McKenley, 46.2 (440 yards) in Champaign, June 1, 1946
Herb McKenley, 46.2 (440 yards) in Salt Lake City, June 21, 1947

. Herb McKenley, 46.0 (440 yards) in Berkeley, June 5, 1948

. Herb McKenley, 45.9 (400m) in Milwaukee, July 2, 1948

. George Rhoden, 45.8 seconds (400m) in Eskilstuna, August 22, 1950

. Arthur Wint, Leslie Laing, Herb McKenley, George Rhoden, 3:03.9 (4x400m) in Helsinki, July 27, 1952
Dennis Johnson, 9.3 seconds (100y) in San Jose, March 11, 1961; San Jose, April 15, 1961; Sunnyvale, May 5, 1961
Errol Stewart, Michael Fray, Clifton Forbes, Lennox Miller, 38.6 (4x100m relay) in Mexico City, October 19, 1968; .38.3 (38.39) in Mexico City, October 19, 1968

. Marilyn Neufville, 51.0 (400m) in Edinburg, July 23, 1970
Donald Quarrie, 19.8 seconds (19.86 seconds) (200m) in Cali, August 3, 1971

. Donald Quarrie, 19.8/19.9 (200m/220y) in Eugene, June 7, 1975
Donald Quarrie, 9.9 seconds (100m) in Modesto, May 22, 1976

. Asafa Powell, 9.77 seconds (100m) in Athens, June 14, 2005

. means that world records were broken and ratified

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