Sprinter Bryan Levell’s former coach, Leon Powell, says he is far from surprised by his personal best of 9.82 seconds over 100 metres set at the Raiffeisen Austrian Open in Eisenstadt, Austria, on Wednesday.

Levell, 21, is the national 200m champion, but also became the second-fastest Jamaican athlete in the world this year and the fourth Jamaican to go below 9.90 seconds this season. Powell, who coached Levell for seven years at Edwin Allen High School in Clarendon, told the Sunday Observer that he showed the potential from a young age.

“I am not surprised by his performance at all,” Powell says. “I think if you watched the season so far, he ran a wind-aided 19.79 leading up to the National Trials, where he had some issues, but he still ran 9.94 (in the 100m semi-final round at trials). He got back into training, and now he has run a personal best time of 9.82.”

Jamaica now has the three fastest men in the world in 2025 in Kishane Thompson (9.75), Levell (9.82), and Oblique Seville (9.83).

Powell says Levell’s success is built on a foundation of passion, discipline, and an unshakable work ethic.

“He loves athletics,” Powell says. “He loves to run, he loves to train, and he trains hard. He is a very disciplined athlete. Sometimes I tell him to take a session off, and most times he doesn’t want to take it off. He believes in himself and that he can get the job done.”

Describing Levell as a driven individual from early on, Powell praised his former student’s hunger to compete and contribute.

“He is also very determined,” Powell says. “From a tender age, he always wanted to be part of it. He never wanted to sit on the sidelines and watch, he wanted to be in it and put in the work. He believes that if he trains hard, he can achieve his goals.”

Powell also lauded Levell’s coach, Shanikie Osbourne, and her team for keeping him in what he describes as peak condition throughout the season.

“Once he can stay healthy, and I must give kudos to Coach Osbourne and her team for keeping him sharp, I have all the confidence in the world that Bryan can do well and will do well come the World Championships in Tokyo,” Powell says.

POWELL…sometimes I tell him to take a session off and most times he doesn’t want to take it off