Jamaican teenage sprinter Yohan Blake in action over the 100 metres dash
By Gary Smith, World-Track
KINGSTON, Jamaica — World and Olympic champion Usain Bolt believes training partner Yohan Blake will be the next great sprinter that will emerge from the sprint factory of Jamaica.
Blake trains with Bolt – under the guidance of coach Glen Mills at Racers Track Club in Kingston, and after watching the teenage sensation becoming the fourth quickest Jamaican ever with his career best of 9.93 seconds, the world record holder said the future of the nation’s male sprinting is in good hands.
“Blake is the man…he’s very, very determine,” Bolt said on Radio Jamaica website.
“He works very hard and in the future, he’ll be very good because you can tell that he really wants it,” added Bolt.
Blake, a former World Junior bronze medallist, posted two times faster than 10-seconds in 2009 and has matured significantly over the last two seasons, as he runs his drills with Bolt, the sprint double world record holder and Antigua’s national sprint hero Daniel Bailey.
Besides his 9.93secs personal best, the 19-year-old also posted 9.96secs and also clocked a good looking 10.05secs in a successful campaign.
He was, in the meantime, among four Jamaican sprinters who were suspended after returning undesirable findings in their samples at the Jamaica National Track and Field Championships in June.
They, however, received public warnings, along with a three-month ban in September after the panel failed to proved the sprinters used any form of enhancing drugs.
Meanwhile, Mills also believes Blake will get even faster has he becomes stronger in both the 100m and 200m events. Despite his solid performances in 2009, Mills said the youngster is nowhere near his best and backs him to follow in the foot-steps of Bolt and Asafa Powell.
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I’ve been saying this guy is the next great Jamaican Sprinter for three years now. this guy reminds me of Tyson gay except he is way farther along than Tyson ever was at the age of 19. He also accellerates out of the Blocks better than Tyson gay does….. mad top end speed for his age.. his greatest weakness right now is his mental preparation B4 races. He runs much better when he is able to relax and have fun.
Since high school days the great ato boldon says “this is the real deal” he flew in just to watch this young man perform….
A good story; but too many grammatical errors!
Antoye, where do you see any errors?…In any event, Blake is very promising. It will be very interesting next year with Powell Bolt and Gay, but now to add Blake to the equation, that’s a speed party right there, lol
Blake is the real deal, but with out for the Gazelle! Jahzeel Murphy!
Blake is the real deal, but watch out for the Gazelle! Jahzeel Murphy!
He needs our sincere prayer.
I agrre that Jahzeel Murphy is an absolute Phenomenon at his age. however he’s got a long way to go. hopefull he gets the right people around him and stays healthy.
Will Blake be able to compete in any of the Diamond League events? The promoters are said to have a “no conviction” policy; or does it apply to major offenders only, like Dwain Chambers?
GRAMMATICAL ERRORS ? WE WILL ALL PRAY FOR THIS TALENTED YOUNG MAN, SO THAT GOD WILL KEEP HIM HUMBLE, AND HELP HIM TO REALIZE HIS FULLEST POTENTIAL
to respond to your question Toyracer. Mr. Blake can definately compete wherever he likes. he has never taken a banned substance.. contrary to reports, the four athletes pleaded guilty to taking a substance of significant findings. that means the substance was suspiscious, not banned. furthermore the product was part of a widely marketed vitamin suppliment that was commonly taken by athletes worldwide. the stimulant has a very short acting effect on the body and is not detectible for more than a few hours after taken. that is why more athletes haven’t been found to have it in their tests. the timing has to be very precise between ingestion and the time that the body uses it and the time that the urine samples are collected.
cvivenne wats up i never know i would buck u up here ur a true track freak like myself. so waynef & infama that yout name jehzeel is definitely 1 2 watch i hope that we can zero in on his talent & he doesnt get lost in the us system. waynef im glad 2 hear that he can compete next year its such a pity we didnt get 2c this yout display his raw talent this year i pray that he will get close guidance next year cause he is good
I believe Blake has tremendous talent and if he carries the same personality he had in high school, I think he can be in the top echelon of sprinting. I don’t know what times he will be able to run but I see him taking over around the next 5 years or so. As for Jahzeel Murphy, I will hold my opinion until he reaches 16 to 17 years of age. Over the years I have seen great young talent not fulfilling their potential. I am looking forward to see his development but at this time I will wait and see. Who knows what will happen in Frano camp by then. Frano has a history of finding talent from no where so until then I will wait to see who will come and challenge Blake. Looking to the future seems bright.
Well R Taylor, Jazeel is 16 years old now and at 15 years old he was fastest under 17 year old in the world…. even If he does not Improve on 10.45, he’s already shown what he’s capable of. I wouldn’t sit on the fence waitin for this guy to proove anything else to me. He’s the real deal.
Waynef, I won’t question your point, it’s valid but I will wait and see . The times now to be consider a top male sprinter will have to be in the 9.8 to 9.7 to say the least. By the way Jahzeel best time I think is 10.39. Anyway hoping you are more right than me. The more Jamaicans perform at the highest level the merrier.