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Ridley Ingram photos:
Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, arms outstretched, came from behind to blow away the World 100m field in 9.92secs. From left are France’s Christophe Lemaitre (4th in 10.19), Jamaica's Nesta Carter (7th, 10.95), USA's Walter Dix (2nd, 10.08), St. Kitts & Nevis' Kim Collins (3rd, 10.09), Antigua's Daniel Bailey (5th, 10.26), and France's Jimmy Vicaut (6th, 10.27).
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A thankful Yohan Blake drops to his knees and becomes the media's focus of attention. At left corner is bronze medalist Kim Collins.
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Yohan Blake on
Top of The World
Following Usain Bolt’s stunning exit from the 100m final line-up at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, his compatriot and training partner 21-year-old Yohan Blake went on to capture his first senior international title in a season best 9.92secs (1.4m/s head wind), blowing away USA’s Walter Dix (10.08) and veteran Caribbean rival and 2003 World Champion Kim Collins (10.09) of St. Kitts and Nevis. It was the 35-year-old Collins who first left the blocks in a hurry and had to be chased down by the charging Jamaican.
Blake, who is having a superb season that has seen him running a wind-aided 9.80secs in the semi-finals of the Jamaica Trials late June, has proven that he belongs with the big boys and has reminded the track and field world that Jamaica’s sprinting is in good hands. May fans had picked Blake to defeat Bolt at the Championships, and Bolt himself once said he had to watch out for Blake.
The 21-year-old Blake, who trains with Racers Track Club in Jamaica, will be an integral part of the Jamaican sprint relays team that will now seek to defend its title on the last day of competition. He is expected to run the back stretch or the anchor leg.
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