CONTENDERS FOR OLYMPIC SPRINT TITLE PUTTING THEIR HANDS UP

Over the past two weeks we have seen some encouraging signs from some of Jamaica’s top sprinters. Bolt, Blake and Powell have looked very promising indeed. Bolt has so far produced world class times of 9.82, 9.76 and 9.79 respectively over the 100 metres, the only man to run 9.7 this season and looking like with a few more weeks of preparation he will be unbeatable.

Bolt’s success will be very critical to how Jamaica performs in London. In addition to the expected medals, Bolt provides the emotional boost that is going to be key to how the team goes forward in London. If he gets the ball a rolling with an electrifying performance in the men’s 100-metres more than likely it will provide a major lift for the other athletes. Should Jamaica begin with two or more medals in the men’s 100 metres, well, I am certain London will be awash with the Black, Green and Gold for the remainder of the Games.

Two medals in the men’s 100 metres is a definite possibility, three, not so much but not impossible.

Many people including those very close to the athletes are counting on Yohan Blake to join Bolt on the medal podium in the men’s sprints this summer. I tend to agree but with the understanding that it is not going to be easy. Blake has gone as fast as 9.84s this season, plus a world-leading 19.91 over the 200 metres. But while on paper Blake looks all set to deliver the goods, there are people like Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay to consider. Gatlin has a fast 9.87 in Doha and a 9.93 in Daegu, times that demonstrate that he belongs in the conversation involving who will medal in London this summer.

Following his win in Doha where he chased down Asafa Powell and beat him on the line, Gatlin, never short on confidence or words began jawing at Bolt who has opened with a 9.82 at the national stadium in May. I believe that somewhere in Gatlin’s mind 9.82 and 9.87 are close enough for him to start trying to play mind games with Bolt, a pretty futile effort considering that Bolt is pretty fearless. I notice he has gone quiet now that Bolt has dropped a pair of 9.7s within the space of a week. I guess he must have forgot who he was dealing with.

That aside though, Gatlin must be considered a possible medalist given what we know about him. He is the 2004 Olympic champion and the 2005 World Champion. He knows what it takes to win and he knows how to handle the rounds and he knows how to deliver on the big stage, something that eludes most athletes including several of our own. If Gatlin shows up ready to run, Bolt will definitely know he is in a race.

Tyson Gay returned this past weekend and based on his 10-flat run at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York into a -1.5 headwind, he announced that he is definitely back almost almost an entire year off racing. That time, which is about a 9.91/9.92 without the headwind suggests that by this month end he could be running a lot faster. By the time track and field gets underway in the first week of August he may very well be ready to chase Bolt to the line like he did in Berlin three years ago. The big question is whether after hip surgery Gay can hold up through three rounds of competition.

Powell has been known as a talented sprinter who lacks that competitive edge but if his last race against Bolt in Oslo means anything, the 29-year-old former world record holder may be learning a thing or two by racing the fastest man in history. In Rome where Bolt uncorked a world leading 9.76, Powell was all over the place, running the first few steps in the lane to his left and eased down at the end when he realized that Bolt was not going to be caught but still managed 9.91s in virtually still conditions (-0.01m/s). When compared to Bolt Powell might seem like a relative slouch but the time was pretty impressive given the number of technical mistakes and the fact that he eased down at the end, indicates that should Asafa clean up his race and run through the line – assuming his 29-year-old legs that have run under 10-seconds an incredible 77 times can last three rounds – he could very well contend for his first Olympic medal.

He needs to take most things from the race in Oslo and bottle it. The things he needs to correct is that habit of drifting across his lane and running through the line. You can never win when you’re running an extra two yards than everybody else. That, and the fact that you give up if you realize you’re behind at 90 metres.

He should take a page from the book of Yohan Blake, who after having not raced in a month and found himself trailing Keston Bledman in New York last weekend ran through the line to eke out a win. His time of 9.90s might have been disappointing to the growing fan base but given the rust and his poor execution of the first 50 metres, shows the immense potential of what he could deliver in London if he puts his best race together by then.

As of this moment there are five men hunting three medals in the 100 metres in London. Under the right circumstances Jamaica could come away with all three but while that may be a long shot, what is more certain is that Bolt will need to bring his ‘A’ game to hold off the challengers. Something tells me however, that we all know he will.