Thompson, who has been holding good form since his first sub-10 second clocking at Jamaica’s National Championships in July, produced a top performance, which not only shattered his previous personal best of 9.91s, but also makes him the fastest Jamaican this year. He overtook Oblique Seville at 9.86s.
Additionally, the 22-year-old Thompson’s time also makes him the sixth-fastest Jamaican of all time. Only Usain Bolt (9.58s), Yohan Blake (9.69s), Asafa Powell (9.72s), Nesta Carter (9.78s) and Steve Mullings (9.80s), have gone faster.
While Thompson’s achievement, which makes him the 22nd fastest man of all time and also earned him a spot in the Diamond League final, may come as a surprise to many, his coach Stephen Francis did indicate that there was more to come after his one-round run at the national championships.
“He would have run significantly faster but the most important thing is that he feels healthy and can look forward to the rest of the summer. Our plan is to ensure that next year, in the Olympic year, he will have the necessary race experience and a different attitude to tackle the full program,” Francis said then in an interview with Sportsmax.tv.
Thompson just failed to get back to Coleman, who equalled Noah Lyles World leading time, as they competed in a slight tailwind of 0.4 metres per second. American Fred Kerley (9.96s) was third.
Meanwhile, the other Jamaicans, Yohan Blake (10.04s), Rohan Watson (10.18s), were sixth and ninth respectively, while Ackeem Blake, who seemingly picked up an injury finished at the back of the pack in well over 25 seconds.
The Jamaican, now 31, was once billed as the heir apparent to illustrious compatriot Usain Bolt after several competitive displays against the world record holder. In 2011, Blake took the gold medal in the 100m, at the Daegu World Championships, after Bolt was disqualified for false starting.
The sprinter followed that up with two close finishes behind Bolt in the 100m and the 200m at the London Olympics the following year. In that time period, Blake also posted the second-fastest times ever recorded over both events with 9.69 in the 100m and 19.26 in the 200m.
His rapid upward trajectory ground sharply to a halt, however, when he suffered a major hamstring injury in 2013 and then again in 2014. The sprinter has since struggled to rediscover anything close to his best form.
Two years later he was back on the world stage at the 2016 Rio Olympics but finished fourth in 100m final and crashed out at the semifinal stage in the 200m. When it comes to performing at major games, it's safe to say things have not improved since. At the 2017 World Championships in London, Blake once again finished fourth in the 100m and failed to advance to the 200m final.
Two years later at the 2019 World Championships, the first without Bolt, he placed fifth in the 100m and for a fourth straight major game did not advance to the 200m final.
Despite finishing second in both events at the National Championships a few weeks ago, however, Levy believes the athlete is in physical shape to launch an assault on the medal podium later this month.
“After he finished second at the National Trials in late June, I had a chat with Michael Frater, one of the coaches at the Titans international club, who told me Blake was in physical shape to run 9.8s,” Levy said on weekly SportsMax.tv program Tokyo Take.
A time anywhere in the region of 9.8s would have been enough to get the athlete a spot on the podium at any of the last seven major games, including in 2011 when he won the title.
Levy also pointed to Blake’s most recent performance, a 9.95 clocking at the Stars and Stripes Classic in Georgia last week. The time was his fastest of the season.
“He ran 9.95 in Florida, his best time since 2017 when he ran 9.94 in Brussels.”
Blake’s time of 9.95 puts him 11th on the world list this season, which is led by the USA’s Trayvon Bromell who ran 9.77 last week.
The athlete himself has, however, also constantly reiterated his determination to get back on the podium.
Like most of the world’s athletes who were preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Blake has been forced into staying home as the countries across the globe attempt to “flatten the curve” on the pandemic that has infected more than 1.5 million persons. More than 102,000 persons have died so far.
However, for Blake who has not won an Olympic medal since his double silver in 2012, the work goes on.
“We are doing some aerobatic fitness work, making sure that we are fit. We all are at a halt now yes, but we have to stay mentally strong,” Blake told Sportstar magazine in India. “The training programme has changed. We are working three times a week now to keep the body in the right shape.
“With the Olympics put off, it is sad, but we can still have a shot at it next year and also, this will help an athlete to be more ready.”
When he isn’t keeping fit, Blake revealed that he spends some time engaging in his favourite pastime, cricket, in his backyard.
“You need to keep yourself motivated, and also watch videos, spend time with the loved ones. That’s all we can do for now,” Blake said.
That ethic helped the 2011 World 100m champion become the fastest man in the world, not named Usain Bolt. His 9.69/19.26 over the 100 and 200m is testament to that fact. In fact, had it not been for the presence of Bolt, Blake might well have been a double Olympic champion in 2012 when his 9.75 and 19.44 saw him win double silver.
However, the past few years have been unkind to the man formerly known as The Beast. Hamstring injuries have slowed Blake to the point where he missed out on winning medals in 2016 in Rio and 2017 at the World Championships in London.
The Tokyo 2020 Games would have been another opportunity for the 30-year-old Blake to re-establish himself as one of the world’s best sprinters. However, with the Games being postponed to the summer of 2021, Blake is leaning once again on that work ethic. While the pandemic rages across the globe, Blake is putting the work he deems essential to get back to being at his best.
“My career in athletics has been a dream come true. For that, I give thanks every day. But with injuries things get difficult. Yet, I don't stop, I keep pushing to come back,” Blake said on Instagram on Wednesday under a 90-second video of him executing some excruciating leg exercises under the supervision of his coach Gregory Little.
“With Coronavirus everything is postponed right now I am making the most of it. I am using this time to talk with my body and unlock the power of my mind to conquer and overcome what has been holding me back on the track. I am working hard to get back to that dangerous form.”
The World Athletics Championships are scheduled to be held in Budapest in August and the soon-to-be 21-year-old Williams is keen to earn an individual spot on Jamaica’s team.
Williams narrowly missed out on a spot in the 100m for the World Championships in Oregon in 2022. In the 100m finals at the Jamaican National Championships last June, Williams led the star-studded field before her race fell apart in the final 15m which saw slip to fourth; the precious third place snatched at the death by NCAA silver-medallist Kemba Nelson, who ran a personal best 10.88.
Having switched camps in the offseason, Williams and her new coaches Gregory Little and Michael Frater, are keen on making sure that her race does not fall apart like that anymore.
After her 7.22 60m dash at the Camperdown Classic on Saturday, Coach Little said she could have been better but their focus has been on what happens after 60.
“She looked pretty good and she is doing what we are teaching her in training,” said Little,
“I would probably give (her) a 75, a B. I think she could do much better.
“We are more focusing on the end part of her race (but) so far when she comes out of her drive phase she looked good and we are looking forward to a good season for her once everything goes smoothly with her health.”
In that area of concern, Little said Williams is making strides.
“She is making good progress regarding her strength endurance and we are working more on her speed endurance, she is adapting to the programme very well,” he said.
Both Williams and the Blakes (Ackeem and Yohan) – 6.63 and 6.64, respectively, were equally graded because, “We have been doing nothing really to look sharp,” he said.
“We just came out to see where we are at because basically we just had three block sessions so far so we said let us test where are at now because we are more focused on strength endurance and speed endurance at the moment.”
So, for the time being it’s another 60 and a couple of half-lappers before the real season begins.
“We have a 60m at Gibson Relays and then we move forward to two 200m next month and then that’s it for March. We will decide what we’re going to do in April,” said Little fully aware that all eyes are on his two young charges this season.
Jamaica’s two-time World champion, Danielle Williams, will take on newly crowned World Indoor 60m champion and record holder, Devynne Charlton, as well as 2021 Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper.
World record holder Tobi Amusan and reigning Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn are also set to line up on Saturday along with Americans Alaysha Johnson and Masai Russell.
The field is completed by Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, 2022 World Indoor champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela and China’s Yanni Wu.
Reigning Olympic champion Hansle Parchment will compete alongside countryman Orlando Bennett in the 110mm hurdles.
Bajan two-time World Championship bronze medallist Sada Williams will line up in the 400m alongside Guyana’s Aliyah Abrams.
Bahamian Anthonique Strachan will take on some of the world’s best in the 200m.
Finally, Jamaica’s World Indoor 60m bronze medallist Ackeem Blake, 2011 World 100m champion Yohan Blake and reigning national 100m champion Rohan Watson will all line up in the 100m against a stacked field including the likes of American world champions Christian Coleman and Fred Kerley.
Speaking at a Racers Grand Prix press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus on Friday, Lyles shared his thoughts on his progress and ambitions.
"Every day, it's (Bolt's records) in the back of my mind. Every day I train as if I'm getting closer and closer because every year I get closer and closer," Lyles said. "Especially this year, we've made a lot of headway in our 100m training, and I'm very eager to show everybody how much headway we've made on Saturday because it's been consistent."
Lyles highlighted the progress he has seen in his training, emphasizing that his improvements are not just occasional but have been consistently evident.
"You know, it's one thing when you get it once or twice in practice, but we've been seeing it happen week after week, run after run, and I believe that the 150m proved that we've been making progress on both ends, on the 200 side and on the 100 side," he said in reference to the American record to the 14.41 he ran at the Adidas Atlanta City Games a week ago.
"And, of course, the world record is always going to be in the back of my mind, but Olympic golds are Olympic golds, and nobody can take those away from you."
While Lyles acknowledges that the 200m world record might be easier to achieve, he remains determined to excel in both events.
"Definitely the 200m is going to be easier. I have a firm, firm chokehold on the 200m right now, and I'd say I'm kind of just letting everybody play their cards for now," he said. "I'm very excited. Tomorrow is gonna be a magical day."
When asked about Blake's stadium record, Lyles responded with enthusiasm and determination. "75? Let's go after that!" he exclaimed.
Lyles' confidence and determination set the stage for an exciting race on Saturday night, as he aims to make history at the National Stadium in Kingston.
Blake, 2011 100m World Champion, was represented by Seegobin since 2009 and helped guide the former St Jago High track star to great heights in the sport of track and field. In 2011, Blake ran 19.26 in the 200m at a meet in Brussels and 9.69 in Lausanne in 2012, to become the second-fastest man of all time.
Only Usain Bolt (9.58 and 19.19) has run faster.
However, in a move that came as a surprise to many, Seegobin announced on Wednesday that he will no longer be representing the man formerly known as ‘The Beast’.
“After 12 years, during which as a team we achieved tremendous successes, I wish to announce that I no longer represent Mr Yohan Blake,” said Seegobin in a statement that revealed that the two parties “separated amicably on August 13, 2021.”
“As a team, along with legendary coach Glen Mills, Mr Blake created history by becoming the youngest man ever to win the 100m world title. He also bagged silver medals in the sprints, and gold as part of the world record-breaking sprint relay team (36.84) at the London 2012 Olympic games,” Seegobin continued.
“Today he remains the joint second-fastest all-time over 100m and the second-fastest ever over 200m. Without question, one of the all-time greats, and I take this opportunity to publicly wish Mr Blake nothing but the best in his future endeavours.”
The article which is said to have been published on Wednesday, July 12, derived from the fact that Blake ran by himself in an attempt to make the men’s 100 metres semi-finals, after he was initially disqualified for a false start.
During his run against the clock, Blake, the World’s second-fastest man over the distance was clocked at 10.32 seconds, which was not good enough to see him through to the next round.
While it was rumoured that the 33-year-old was not pleased with the time, his manager Timothy Spencer has since cleared the air.
“Yohan has no intention of suing anyone,” Spencer told Sportsmax.TV.
Blake, who is in Silesia, Poland also rubbished the 'report' stating, "I dont know where this is coming from. I have moved on already and I'm focussing on the races ahead of me. In my head I'm already thinking about 2024 and hope I can represent Jamaica in the Olympic Games in 2024 in Paris."
Meanwhile, when contacted JAAA’s president Garth Gayle said the article "is not credible because we have no official documentation."
Blake, who in June signalled a return to form this year following a 9.85 clocking at the Jamaica National Championships, his fastest time in a decade, sped to a 9.96 timing to miss out on the meet record of 9.93 set in July 2019 by Arthur Cisse of the Ivory Coast.
Nonetheless, the time was good enough for the 2011 world 100m champion to win comfortably ahead of the USA’s Cravont Charleston, who finished in second place in a time of 10.12.
Jeremiah Azu of Great Britain picked up the other podium spot after finishing third in 10.16.
Williams, meanwhile, won the triple jump with a mark of 13.92m.
The 33-year-old Jamaican has been well off her best this season. She has only managed a best of 14.29m this season, well below her lifetime best of 14.69m.
However, against a less than a stellar field, she proved to be imperious.
Mariko Morimoto of Japan leapt out to a lifetime best of 13.82m to claim second place while Nesa Filipic of Slovenia mustered her best effort of 13.78m for third.
Jamaican Olympic finalist Damion Thomas was second in the 110m hurdles running 13.46 to finish runner-up to the USA’s Eric Edwards, who ran 13.40 for the victory.
Norway’s Vladimir Vukicevic finished third in 13.61.
Bromell, who leads the world this year with a 9.88 seconds run, is tipped for Saturday’s short sprint title at the World Athletics Continental Tour – Silver meet, to be held at the Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, Florida, USA.
Blake, the 2011 100m world champion, would be hoping to challenge the in-form Bromell for the top spot. Among the other key contenders are American Christopher Belcher and St Kitts and Nevis sprinter Jason Rogers. Trinidad and Tobago’s 2008 Olympic 100m silver medallist Richard Thompson is on the comeback trail and will test himself in Saturday’s century.
Thompson is also expected to feature on one of two Trinidad and Tobago teams entered in the men’s 4x100m relay. Jamaica, Bahamas, Antigua & Barbuda and Guyana are also listed for sprint relay action. Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will try to improve on the times that currently have them in qualifying spots for the Tokyo Olympics.
Among the entrants in the men’s 400m event is 2008 Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt. The American quarter-miler will be challenged by Trinidad and Tobago’s Deon Lendore and Jamaican Akeem Bloomfield.
Jamaica’s reigning Commonwealth Games champion Fedrick Dacres will seek revenge on Samoa’s Alex Rose in a mouth-watering men’s discus clash. On May 22, in Arizona, Rose produced a 67.48 metres national record throw to capture the USA Track & Field (USATF) Throws Fest crown, forcing Dacres (65.20m) into second spot.
Marquis Dendy of the United States would fancy his chances of topping the men’s long jump field. Among his challengers will be Trinidad and Tobago’s Andwuelle Wright.
Canadian Marco Arop is the favourite in the men’s 800m event. Jamaican Kemar Mowatt and Americans Quincy Hall, Kenny Selmon and Amere Lattin will be in the hunt in the men’s 400m hurdles. And on current form, Jamaican Rasheed Broadbell is the man to beat in the men’s 110m hurdles.
Reigning Olympic champions, Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica and Americans Dalilah Muhammad and Tianna Bartoletta are among the female stars on the entry list.
Some 200 athletes from 27 countries are expected to be on show at the NACAC New Life Invitational. Saturday’s meet starts at 2 pm (Eastern Daylight Time).
The brand will officially hit the market on November 1 with plans already in place to target markets overseas, especially in the Diaspora, the Caribbean and China where the 2011 World 100m champion continues to be a popular figure.
The broader plan is to align the Reviere brand with Jamaican/Caribbean sport, culture and life making it the water of choice for “home, healing, training, the gym, rehearsals, events and everyone’s life essential drink of water.”
Blake and his team have already planned an aggressive marketing strategy to break into the market. They have ready ads for television and social media featuring Blake and the brand’s ambassador, dancehall icon Bounty Killer and one for social media.
The world champion’s image appears on each bottle of water, which his team believes will help to connect the brand with consumers.
Speaking with Sportsmax.TV, Blake said launching his own brand of water is a big deal.
“It is really big for me. It is really going to change the market in the way not just how people see water, but see me on the bottle knowing that through my hard work this water is on the market and me looking to go into a different venture,” he said.
The beloved athlete also drew praise from business partner Stephen Steele of iPrint Digital and Outdoor Advertising, who urged everyone to support Blake in this new venture.
Speaking on behalf of Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Advisor Lenford Salmon lauded the second fastest man for his dive into entrepreneurship and described him as an example for others to follow.
“The minister particularly wanted me to highlight the fact that for a young man, a young athlete, and we at the Ministry of Culture regard sports as physical culture. So we regard it as a part of the culture and in the day of bling where artists, too many of them and our athletes make some money, sometimes it’s not even a whole heap, but when they make some income they don’t plow it back, they go for the bling,” Salmon said.
“They go for fast cars, they party every night, they go for top-shelf liquor, without looking to see how they’re going to secure their future. And we’ve been watching you and we’re seeing your business ventures, we’ve seen all you have been doing to set an example for athletes and for people, generally, in what we call physical culture and culture and we want to use this opportunity of you starting another business venture and hold you up as that kind of example which we want others to follow.”
The new facilities scheduled to be completed in November 2020, will include multi-purpose play areas and an artificial turf football field. Once completed it will become a critical tool in a thrust to raise the standard of care for wards of the state in Jamaica to unprecedented levels.
Blake, the 2011 100m world champion, started the YB Afraid Foundation in 2011 with a mandate to support organizations and develop programs that address the educational, physical and mental health and social needs of underprivileged youth, enabling them to develop into outstanding citizens and role models in society.
He told Sportsmax.TV that the project takes him closer to achieving his vision of providing safe spaces for the island’s underprivileged youth.
“I am very proud to be able to do this. It is a life-long dream and I really believe it is only the beginning,” said the 2012 double Olympic silver medallist.
“I have to thank my Richard Mille family and my Sandals family and everyone who has been so generous and has helped. Those people inspire me to be better and to do more. I can’t wait for it to be finished so I can go and spend some time with the boys.”
Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation Heidi Clarke said they were excited to be on board with the project that Jamaica so desperately needs. The foundation, she said, has been managing the execution of the project and helping the YB Afraid Foundation realize its vision.
She revealed that the project contained components that were important to the Sandals Foundation. These included the rehabilitation of the existing structures transforming them into a HEART-certified woodwork-training centre on the property and a halfway house that can accommodate wards that age out when they turn 17.
“We saw the need to create spaces that are inspirational, to uplift these young men coming from difficult situations. We feel strongly that if we provide them with an environment to develop holistically they can reach for the stars. The sky is the limit for them,” Clarke said.
The 34-year-old Blake's performance in the heats was a testament to his experience and competitive edge, as he comfortably advanced to the final with the fastest qualifying time. This season-best effort underscored Blake's determination to remain a formidable force in sprinting, even as he continues to navigate the later stages of his illustrious career.
In the final, Blake crossed the finish line third with a time of 10.26 seconds. However, his results were invalidated due to a false start that led to his disqualification. The disqualification came as a significant disappointment, especially after his promising performance in the heats.
Fellow Jamaican sprinter Christania Williams also impressed at the meet. Williams, who is based in Austria and trained by Coach Phillip Unfried, ran a strong race in the women's 100m, clocking an impressive 11.33 seconds. Her performance highlights her consistent progress and potential as she continues to train and compete in Europe.
The Raiffeisen Austrian Open served as a crucial platform for athletes like Blake and Williams to gauge their form and readiness as they prepare for upcoming national champions in just over a month’s time. Despite the setback in the final, Blake's season-best time in the heats remains a positive takeaway, indicating his capacity to compete at high levels.
For Williams, the meet was an opportunity to showcase her talent and the results of her training under Coach Unfried's guidance. Her time of 11.33 seconds is a solid mark as she aims to continue improving and achieving new personal bests.
It was a meet that several Caribbean athletes used as a tune-up before their expected departures to Tokyo, Japan for the Olympic Games that begin later this week.
Blake, who is contesting both 100m and 200m at the Olympics ran 20.22 in a blanket finish with Rasheed Dwyer, who defeated him at the national championships in Kingston last month. Dwyer was given the same time.
Jevaughn Minzie was third in 20.29 while the ever-improving Jazeel Murphy ran 20.49 for fourth.
Minzie had earlier won the 100m in 10.09 in slightly windy conditions. The wind registered at 2.3m/s just above the allowable limit.
It was a race where the top four places were separated by 0.02 seconds. Chris Royster of the United States was given the same time as Minzie while Travis Collins finished third in 10.10. Tyquendo Tracey was fourth in 10.11.
Murphy was sixth in 10.15. The former Bridgeport High School star ran a lifetime best of 10.17 during the preliminary round.
Candice Hill won the women’s 200m in 22.30, a time aided by a trailing wind of 3.3m/s. Anastasia Le-Roy, who missed out on the chance to make Jamaica’s team to Tokyo, was second in 22.79. Cassondra Hall of the USA was third in 22.97.
Hill won the 100m in 10.99 (2.5m/s) ahead of Tristan Evelyn of Barbados (11.23) and Jamaica’s Remona Burchell (11.24).
Tapper, the newly minted national 100m hurdles champion, clocked 12.48 to win her event in commanding fashion ahead of Evonne Britton, who ran 12.72 and Yanique Thompson (12.75). The time would have been a massive lifetime best for Tapper had it not been for a heavy tailwind of 3.6m/s.
Ronda Whyte ran 55.57 to win the 400m hurdles defeating Puerto Rico’s Grace Claxton, who ran 56.26. Canada’s Noelle Montcalm ran 56.37 for third place.
The flat 400m was won by Tovea Jenkins in 51.53 after holding off the challenge of Jaide Stepter of the USA who ran 51.87. Le-Roy was third in 51.98.
Khallifah Rosser won the men’s event in 45.74 ahead of Nathon Allen, who clocked 45.89. South Africa’s Derrick Mokaleng was third in 46.04, the same time that was given to Demish Gaye, who was fourth.
That year, he ran a 200m time of 19.26 to become the second fastest man over the distance behind his then training partner Usain Bolt. The following year, he ran 9.69 becoming the second-fastest ever in the 100m. Only Usain Bolt’s 9.58 is faster.
However, this weekend when he takes to the track at Jamaica’s National Athletics Championships in Kingston, Blake will be competing in Puma gear.
The announcement was made on Puma’s Instagram page on Wednesday.
“A new chapter begins. Welcome, @yohanblake to the PUMA family” was the simple post under a picture of the man once known as ‘The Beast’, who this weekend will be attempting to win a spot on Jamaica’s team to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The 33-year-old ‘Beast’ a veteran of three Olympiads and four World Championships will face a brigade of rising stars of Oblique Seville, Ackeem Blake, De’Andre Daley and Bouwahjgie Nkrumie and hungry lions like Julian Forte, Nigel Ellis and Michael Campbell, who are among the 25 entrants vying for a spot on the Jamaican team.
So far this season, Blake has run a season-best time of 10.05 set at the FBK Games in Hengelo. The time makes him the fifth-fastest Jamaica this year behind Ackeem Blake (9.89), Seville (9.95), Nkrumie (9.99) and Forte (10.03).
