One could earn almost quadruple their money on a bet that Asafa Powell will dethrone champion Usain Bolt through a win in the 100 metres final at the 2011 IAAF World Athletics Championships.

What’s more, betting on up-and-coming sprint sensation Yohan Blake would earn you 12-times your investment for the same feat.

Local gaming company Supreme Ventures, through its sports betting brand JustBet, released the odds for several marquee events at the championships yesterday, just days before the opening ceremony.

Powell was placed at odds of 3.60 (or 13/5) and Blake at odds of 12.00 (or 11/1) for the men’s 100m, meaning that a bettor placing a $1,000 bet, would win $3,600 if he/she successfully bets on Powell to win the race or $12,000 with Blake. World and Olympic champion Bolt was placed at odds of 1.30 (or 3/10) for the event while Trinidadian Richard Thompson is also in the mix, favoured at odds of 15.00 (or 14/1).

Wagering is offered on which athlete will win the gold medal in each event, with betting open up until five minutes before the final of each event — except for finals run on a Sunday, for which all bets must be placed by the previous day (Saturday).

Other events now available for betting through JustBet are the women’s 100m, men’s and women’s 400m, men’s 110m hurdles, and women’s 400m hurdles.

In the women’s 100m, American Carmelita Jeter is the favourite at odds of 1.55 (or 11/20); followed by defending 200M Olympic champion, Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown at odds of 3.60 (or 13/5). Next is the up-and-coming young Trinidadian Kelly-Ann Baptiste at odds of 6.00 (or 5/1), followed by defending 100m world and Olympic champion, Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at odds of 12.00 (or 11/1).

JustBet’s favourites to win gold in the men’s 110m hurdles are Olympic champion and world record holder, Dayron Robles of Cuba at odds of 1.95 (or 19/20); 2004 Olympic champion Lu Xiang of China at odds of 3.00 (or 2/1) and American David Oliver at odds of 4.00 (or 3/1).

In the women’s 400m hurdles, Jamaican Kaliese Spencer is favoured at odds of 1.35 (or 7/20), followed by American Lashinda Demus at odds of 3.50 (or 5/2) and defending world and Olympic champion, Jamaican Melaine Walker at odds of 10.00 (or 9/1).

In the men’s 400m, defending world and Olympic champion American Leshawn Merritt is favoured to win gold at odds of 3.60 (or 13/5), followed by young Grenadian sensation Kirani James at odds of 4.00 (or 3/1) and Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica at odds of 5.00 (or 4/1).

In the women’s 400m, three time world champion over 200m, American Allyson Felix is favoured at odds of 3.00 (or 2/1), followed by the defending world champion Sanya Richards at odds of 3.60 (or 13/5) and Botswana’s Amantle Montsho at odds of 4.50 (or 7/2). Jamaican Shericka Williams, world and Olympic silver medalist over this distance, is favoured at odds of 25.00 (or 24/1) to win gold.

The Championships begin on Saturday August 27 (Friday night local time) and end on Sunday September 4.

Supreme Ventures said odds for additional events at the championships will be announced in the next few days, includin the men’s and women’s 200m, men’s 400m hurdles, men’s high jump, men’s and women’s long jump, and men’s and women’s 4 x 100m, among others.