Julian Forte

The four-day Championships which is being used to select Jamaica's senior team to the World Athletics Championships, as well as teams to a few youth events, get is set to start on Thursday at the National Stadium.

Blake, has been the pacesetter in terms of his steady display of form so far this season, having dipped below 10 seconds in four of seven 100-metre races to date, which just about signals his readiness to challenge for a spot on the team to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, next month.

The 21-year-old, who opened his season with times of 10.05s, 9.93s and 9.99s in April, gradually upped the ante on May 21, when he clocked a wind-aided 9.87s in Bermuda, which may not have counted where achievements are concerned, but would have done his confidence a world of good.

And, so it did. He returned a week later and produced another impressive run, clocking a new personal best 9.89s at the USATF LA Grand Prix, in California. That time bettered his previous best of 9.93s that came at last year's National Championship.

However, his most recent performances at the backend of June, a 10.07s-clocking at the Budapest Quest meet inside the National Stadium, followed by 9.93s at the USATF New York Grand Prix, Blake said fell below his coach's expectations where execution is concerned.

"I never executed those races how my coach wanted, so we just have to go back to the drawing board and put in the work," Blake said in a recent interview during the National Championships launch.

A statement like that speaks volumes of the high standard both Blake and his Titans Track Club coach have set for themselves and, understandably so, as the quality of Jamaica's male sprinting took a nosedive since the retirement of the incomparable Usain Bolt in 2017.

But Blake, a former Merlene Ottey High standout is among those leading the revival having made it to the semi-finals at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in his first full season in the senior professional ranks.

With that experience under his belt, there is no limit to what Blake could possibly achieve this year and beyond, provided he stays fit and healthy. 

"I gained a lot of experience last year which was good for me so now I am just using that experience to be the best that I can be. So, I'm good, I am more relaxed and just having fun," Blake declared.

Given the fact that he placed third at last year's National Championship behind 2011 World Champion and the second fastest man alive, Yohan Blake, who is also his training partner, the Titans young star knows that taking the national title won't be easy.

Yohan Blake the reigning national champion, as well as Oblique Seville, who has been a bit low-key with a season's best 9.95 seconds and other top contenders –possibly Julian Forte, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie and DeAndre Daley –are expected to face the starter for Friday's final, and it is anybody's guess who will reign supreme.

Young Blake, being a man of few words, is intent on letting his performance do the talking on the track, which is when his true personality comes to light.

"Coach is just working on my start so I can go out there to have fun and do what I have to do that's it. So, I'm not talking (about expectations) right now, I am just going out there and time will tell," he ended.

Since 2018, the 27-year-old Forte has been fighting a raft of injuries that have stunted his performances on the track. He suffered three different injuries in 2018. He suffered a back injury at the start of the season. A knee injury kept him from competing at the Commonwealth Games and he tore his hamstring at the national championships.

In 2019, while still suffering from ‘niggles’ of those previous injuries, he hurt his groin.

So far this year, Forte has been experiencing much better fortune and it has been showing on the track. At the Velocity Fest track meet at Jamaica College on July 18, Forte ran the 100m in 10.03s, the third-fastest time in the world this year behind Michael Norman’s 9.86 and Akani Simbini’s 9.91.

It was also his fastest time since he ran a personal best 9.91 in Berlin in August 2017.

The weekend before, July 11, at the first Velocity Fest meet, he clocked an impressive 20.71 while running into a stiff headwind of -2.9m/s. The times, he said, are an indication that he is getting back to his best form in three years.

“Basically, I am fully fit. I would not say 100 per cent. There are still some little niggles and a little pain from my groin injury from last year, so I am not at 100 per cent but much better than last year,” he said.

“I can tell where I am from how I feel in training that I am getting back to where I want to be. I don’t think I am there yet but I am in good shape.”

Looking ahead, Forte said he is focused on avoiding injury.

“Injuries have been a big concern for me over the last two years, so I just want to stay fit, execute and continue to produce quality performances.”

The meets that have provided athletes with an outlet for competition after months of uncertainty have produced a number of world-class performances including world-leading times over the past few weeks.

However, while there were no world leads on Saturday, the quality of the competition was still quite good.

Thompson won the 200m in a smart 22.79 seconds, more than a second clear of Bahamas’ Anthonique Strachan, who stopped the clock in 23.87. Srabani Nanda was third in 24.06.

Rusheen McDonald, who holds Jamaica’s national 400m record at 43.93, won the 200m in 21.48, getting the better of Trinidad and Tobago’s Emmanuel Callender (21.88) and Glenmore Biggs (25.37).

Julian Forte has been enjoying a welcome return to form after overcoming injuries that have stunted his progress over the past two years. He enjoyed another win on Saturday, edging 2011 World Champion Yohan Blake, to win the 100m in 10.20s. Blake was also given 10.20s in the race that was run into a stiff headwind of -1.3m/s.

Nigel Ellis was third in 10.45.

The field events also provided good quality with 2019 World Champion Tahjay Gayle leaping to 8.04m to win the long jump. Meanwhile, World Championship silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts produced her second-best jump of the season, 14.37m, to win the Women’s Triple Jump.

World Championship silver medallist Fedrick Dacres won the discus with a best throw of 61.44m. Chad Wright (59.87m) was second.

That confidence was on display on Saturday at the third and final Velocity Fest meet at the Ashenheim Stadium at Jamaica College on Saturday when the 2016 double Olympic champion sped to a win in the 100m in 10.73 leaving Sprintec’s Shashalee Forbes (11.05) and MVP’s Srabani Nanda (11.51) in her wake.

The only disappointment was that the time was aided by a trailing wind of 3.0 m/s but it was still the fastest time by a female sprinter under all conditions for 2020.

The time was an improvement on the 11.19s she ran on July 18 at the same venue.

“I have never lost confidence in myself. I always pray for health and fitness,” she told Sportsmax.TV, highlighting that pandemic lockdown has had her craving competition.

“It feels great to return to the track,” she said. “You develop that hunger being not being able to compete after you’ve been training for so long. This helps to put more perspective on training and preparation as well as give benchmarks for the coach to work from,” she said.

Thompson-Herah was not the only standout at the meet on Saturday.

Her MVP club-mate, Julian Forte, followed up his impressive 10.03s while the 100m a week ago, broke through the 10-second barrier for the first time in three years, with 9.96 while defeating his celebrated compatriot Yohan Blake who was timed in 10.07s.

The times were aided by a trailing wind of 2.1m/s just above the legal limit of 2.0 m/s.

Nesta Carter, who ran in a separate heat, had the fastest wind-legal time of 10.18s (1.6m/s).

The Women 200m also produced solid performances as Bahamian Anthonique Strachan of MVP stopped the clock at 22.72s to defeat Natasha Morrison (23.68) and Michae Harriott of GC Foster (23.90).

Janieve Russell also seemed to be returning to full fitness as she ran 51.67 to win the 400m ahead of Shericka Jackson, 51.87. Rushell Clayton, the 2019 World Championship 400m hurdles bronze medallist was third in 52.67.

Having missed out on her first 100m race in Botswana and Kenya earlier in the season, the five-time world champion, ran her first competitive races over 200m at the Jamaican national championships in early July.

However, with those races out of the way, the Pocket Rocket lined up for her first blue-ribbon dash of the season and she did not disappoint. After recovering from a poor start, Fraser-Pryce tore through the field to win a new meet record of 10.82.

She was well clear of New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs, who took the runner-up spot in 11.08 with the USA’s Kennedy Blackmon close behind in 11.11.

The Men’s A final was also a Jamaica affair with Julian Forte breaking 10 seconds for the first time this season while edging newly minted Jamaican champion Rohan Watson.

Forte took the lead early and held on to win in 9.99 over the fast-finishing Watson, who clocked in at 10.03 for second place. The USA’s Brandon Carnes was third in 10.06.

The 110m hurdles featured another thrilling battle between the Jamaican duo of Tyler Mason and Orlando Bennett. On the final day of the Jamaican national championships earlier this month, Bennett nipped Mason at the line to deny the former Jamaica College standout of a place on Jamaica’s team to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.

On that Sunday, Bennett finished third in 13.19 to Mason who was fourth in 13.22. On Thursday, Mason turned the tables on his compatriot winning a hard-fought race in 13.19 with Bennett finishing second in 13.22.

Eric Edwards of the USA was a close third in 13.24.

Jamaican champion, Janieve Russell ran a new season’s best and meet record of 53.65 to record a comfortable victory in the 400m hurdles over Dalilah Mohammed of the USA who clocked in at 54.01 just ahead of Andrenette Knight, who finished in 54.13.

On Sunday, Rusheen McDonald ran the third-fastest time ever run by a Jamaican when he raced to a season-best 44.03 to finish behind Bahamian Steven Gardiner’s who ran a world-leading 43.74.

On Thursday, he proved it was no fluke as he stormed to a commanding victory in 44.80. He was metres clear of Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi who ran 45.15 for second place. Germany’s Manuel Sanders was third in 45.28.

The team of Asafa Powell, Oshane Bailey, Yohan Blake and Julian Forte clocked 38.33 that is only bettered by China’s 38.29 established on March 20, this year.

Jamaica was in a race against time to achieve a qualifying time for the Olympic Games after it withdrew from the recently concluded World Relays in Poland where the top eight teams automatically qualified for the Olympic Games.

However, after Saturday’s performance, qualifying could become a formality.

In the race at GC Foster, a Jamaica Green team of Ackeem Blake, Romario Williams, Nigel Ellis and Kadrian Goldson was second in 39.55.

A St Vincent team of McKish Compton, Javon Rollins, OJ Jackson and Akani Slater were third in 40.13.

Meanwhile, Blake followed up his 9.98/10.02 runs a week ago with a 10.05 wind-legal run to win the 100m time trial. Bailey was second overall in 10.13 while Williams was third fastest with 10.16.

World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist ran a fast 22.62 to win the 200m ahead of Stephenie-Ann McPherson, who in continuing her quest to develop her speed, was timed in 22.98. Shashelee Forbes was third in 23.03.

The men’s event was won by Anthony Carpenter of Legacy Athletics. The former Calabar High quarter-miler ran a decent 20.88 with a 2.2m/s trailing wind. Breakout sprint hurdler Rasheed Broadbell was second best with his time of 20.95 while Michael Sharpe of GC Foster crossed in 20.98 to be third overall.

Janieve Russell clocked 55.45 to win the 400m hurdles ahead of Rhonda Whyte (56.29).

Yohan Blake, the 2011 World Champion and double Olympic silver medalist showed glimpses of the Beast, as he also advanced to the semi-finals of the men’s 100m with the fastest time.

Jackson, 26, a 400m specialist, clocked 10.91 and was the fastest among the women. That takes some doing considering that the preliminary round also featured four-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who cruised to victory in her heat in 10.97.

Elaine Thompson-Herah, the 2016 double Olympic champion also looked to be in incredibly great shape as she won her heat in 10.96.  Briana Williams, 2018 World U20, was also a picture of good form in winning her heat in 11.00.

Also among the 16 women advancing to the semi-finals were Natasha Morrison, who was second to Jackson in 11.06 while Shian Hyde was a distant third in 11.50.

Sashalee Forbes advanced from Fraser-Pryce’s heat having run 11.13, close to her personal best of 11.10 while finishing second to the two-time Olympic 100m champion. Remona Burchell, the 2014 NCAA champion, showed the form that made her champion clocking 11.14, a brand new season-best and her fastest time since she ran 11.07 in 2017.

Natalliah Whyte (11.13) and Shockoria Wallace (11.22) advanced from Thompson-Herah’s heat while Kemba Nelson ran 11.05 and Kevona Davis (11.19) advanced from Williams’ heat.

Briana Williams, the national U20 record holder at 10.97, showed that she will not be outrun by anyone cruising to an 11.00 clocking to also advance from Heat 4 along with Kemba Nelson (11.05) and Kevona Davis (11.19).

 Ashanti Moore (11.15), Kashieka Cameron (11.28), Jodean Williams (11.45) and Schillonie Calvert-Powell (11.53) are also through to Friday’s semis.

Meanwhile, Blake looked like the sprinter of a decade ago when only Usain Bolt was faster when he eased to a 10.03 clocking to win his heat. Davonte Burnett was the second-fastest through to the semi-finals when he won his heat in 10.05.

Burnett, whose father is Jamaican, grew up in Massachusetts and attends the University of Southern California. He was fifth in the NCAA Division I finals in 10.19.

Julian Forte and Oblique Seville both looked good while crossing the line together in their heat in 10.08, similar to what happened in the opening heat with Tyquendo Tracey and Nigel Ellis, who were both credited with 10.13.

 Romario Williams, who clocked 10.27, also advanced from that heat.

Also advancing to Friday’s semi-finals were Senoj-jay Givans (10.20), Oshane Bailey (10.26), Andre Ewers (10.22), Bryan Levell (10.25), Jelani Walker (10.32), Michael Campbell (10.25), Ashanie Smith (10.25), Jevaughn Minzie (10.27) and Ramone Barnswell (10.32).

In her highly anticipated season opener, Jackson blazed to victory in the 100m, crossing the line in a swift time of 11.03 seconds. Her performance not only secured her the win but also sent a strong message about her form and readiness as she heads into an Olympic year.

The race saw Tina Clayton take second place with a time of 11.20 seconds, closely followed by Krystal Sloley in third with a time of 11.25 seconds.

On the men's side, Julian Forte delivered an outstanding performance in the 100m dash, clocking an impressive time of 10.07 seconds to secure the title of the fastest Jamaican this year. Earl Simmons followed closely with a time of 10.15 seconds, while Jazeel Murphy claimed third place overall with a time of 10.20 seconds.

Murphy continued his strong showing later in the evening by dominating the 200m event, crossing the line in 20.67 seconds to claim victory. Ashanie Smith and Michael Sharp secured second and third places, respectively, with times of 20.93 seconds and 21.09 seconds.

In other notable performances, former national record holder Janeek Brown showcased her talent in the 100m hurdles, posting a time of 13.15 seconds. This promising performance suggests that Brown is on track to regain her top form after her impressive NCAA title win in 2019.

Orlando Bennett emerged victorious in the men's sprint hurdles with a commendable time of 13.67 seconds, narrowly edging out Odario Phillips (13.71) and Andre Harris (13.78) in a closely contested finish.

Traves Smikle demonstrated his dominance in the men's discus event, throwing an impressive 66.03m to claim first place. Chad Wright secured second place with a throw of 62.98m, followed by Tio-Josh Mowatt in third place with a distance of 52.76m.

Jackson was the toast of the meet with a stirring run down the home stretch to clock a meet record and season best 50.92, her fastest time ever in March. The reigning world 200m champion has her eyes set on going faster than the 21.45 she ran to win her first ever global title in Eugene, Oregon last summer and on the evidence of what she has accomplished so far this season building on her endurance, she is well on track.

Coming off the final turn, Jackson running in lane six, found herself trailing Elite Performance’s Stacey-Ann Williams, the Olympic 4x400m bronze medallist and simply shifted gears to surge past the 24-year-old quarter-miler towards the finish line.

Williams ran a creditable 51.59 for second place while Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles champion Janieve Russell finished third in 52.77.

The men’s race was equally thrilling with 2022 Carifta Games champion Roshawn Clarke, who is now at Swept Track Club, holding off the field to win in a personal best 45.85.

Titan’s International runner Assinie Wilson clocked 45.95 for second place. Malik Kymani James King ran a season-best 46.39 for third.

The 200m races were run in an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ and both were interesting for different reasons.

The ‘A’ final featured World Championship bronze medalist Sada Williams of Barbados, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion and she looked every bit the part as she ran down Toyko 4x100m relay gold medallist Natasha Morrison to win in a season-best 22.98.

Morrison held on for second place in 23.24 while Tovea Jenkins was third in 23.91.

The ‘B’ final had two of Jamaica’s rising sprint stars, Briana Williams, who celebrated her 21^st birthday on Tuesday, March 21 and 18-year-old Tina Clayton, the World U20 100m champion.

In truth, it was expected to be a close contest, but it wasn’t.

Clayton running inside Williams’ surged past her elder rival midway the curve and extended her lead once she hit the straight before going on to win in 23.69. Williams, who got a poor start and ran a poor curve, tightened up down the stretch and was passed by Indian sprinter Srabandi Wada, who finished second in 23.98, forcing the Jamaican to settle for fourth in a disappointing 24.03.

The Men’s 100m final proved to be anti-climactic as the three main protagonists Zharnel Hughes, Julian Forte and Nigel Ellis, all of whom looked sharp in their preliminary heats, were disqualified after false starts.

Without them, Canada’s Brendon Rodney stormed to victory in a personal best 10.17, just ahead of Wolmer’s Boys Jehlani Gordon who ran a personal best 10.22 and the ‘msyterious’ Sachin Dennis, who was third in a season-best 10.23.

Tyler Mason came up trumps in the 110m hurdles winning in 13.68, well clear of Odario Phillips 13.83 and LaFranz Campbell 13.85.

Elvis Graham of GC Foster established a meet record 74.58m to win the javelin over Oraine Thomas (68.97m) and Devon Spencer 68.32m.

Fedrick Dacres threw 64.29m to win the men’s discus ahead of clubmate Traves Smikle (63.77), and Kai Chang of the University of the West Indies (60.69m

The Stephen Francis-coached sprinter produced a personal best 9.82, the joint, second fastest time in the world this year, to win the second heat. Ackeem Blake also went below 10 seconds for the first time this season with 9.95 to finish second behind Thompson in that heat and advance.

Sandrey Davison (10.00) and Sachin Dennis (10.04) both also made it through to Friday’s semi-finals from heat two after producing new personal bests while Nigel Ellis was the fifth semi-finalist from that heat with a time of 10.13.

Oblique Seville, who produced fourth place finishes at both the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, looked super comfortable on his way to 9.98 to win heat one ahead of Bryan Levell (10.07) and Jehlani Gordon (10.09). Levell’s time is a new personal best.

Julian Forte produced a confident 10.00 to win the third heat ahead of defending National champion Rohan Watson (10.07) and Tyquendo Tracey (10.09). Jazeel Murphy produced a personal best 10.11 to also make it through from that heat alongside Travis Williams whose 10.13 was also enough to make it through.

2023 World Championship finalist Ryiem Forde won the fourth and final heat in 10.02 ahead of Kadrian Goldson (10.12) and Jelani Walker (10.21).

The semi-finals and final are scheduled for Friday.

The time put her ahead of compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s 10.86 set last month.

Thompson-Herah, who went into the meet with the second-fastest time in the world this year, 10.88 at the Velocity Fest meeting in Kingston on August 8, was in complete control from the start pulling away mid-race to seal an impressive win.

The USA’s Aleia Hobbs was miles behind in a season-best 11.14 while Marie-Josee Ta Lou turned him her best run this year for third in her season-best of 11.14.

Thompson-Herah’s MVP teammate Anthonique Strachan was eighth in 11.42.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Akani Simbini won the men’s equivalent in 9.96 ahead of Arthur Cisse of the Ivory Coast, who crossed the finish line in a season-best 10.04.

Filippo Tortu of Italy claimed third in 10.09.

Julian Forte stumbled at the start and never recovered finishing sixth in 10.15.

Meanwhile, Armand Duplantis set a world outdoor best of 6.15m erasing the mark held by Ukraine’s Sergei Bubka since 1991.

Karsten Warholm, the metronome, set a new meet record of 47.07 in the 400m hurdles. He has now set four of the 11 fastest times in history this season.