Jamaica’s newest sprinting sensation Yohan Blake, the 2011 World Championships 100m gold medalist, scorched the track at the Belgacom Memorial Van Damme Diamond League in Belgium yesterday in a world leading 19.26secs (+0.7m/s), the second fast half lap speed of all time, bettered only by his compatriot Usain Bolt, who clocked a 19.19 world record at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.

Blake’s previous best was 19.78 done at a July 2010 meet in Monaco when he closed in on Tyson Gay of the US for second. Until yesterday, his season best this year was 20.33. And on Sept 8 Blake ran 9.82 to win the 100m in Zurich and again clocked the identical time in Berlin on the 11th to beat compatriot Asafa Powell.

“I knew I was in good shape…I've been training with Usain and going pace-for-pace with him. Nevertheless, I'm still a bit surprised with 19.2” Blake said after the race, noting that if he had run the corner some more, a world record would have been possible.

Just minutes after Bolt, his training partner, registered a world leading 9.76 at the same meet, Blake lined up for the 200m race against the American Walter Dix, the World 100m and 200m bronze and silver medalist, respectively, and his countryman and former high school teammate Nickel Ashmeade as his main rivals. 

By running a very slow first 100m, Blake, who says he isn’t a good curve runner, had taken Bolt's advice to run a contained curve before blasting for the line. He trailed Dix into the straight then shifted into high gear at about 110m to drive pass and away from Dix to stop the clock with a stunner that stole Bolt’s thunder and brought out Bolt on the track to congratulate him in amazement. With eyes wide open in disbelief, Bolt, who figured Blake would have run 19.5,  asked Blake “what was that?” and “where did that come from?” He later joked that he wouldn't be giving Blake any more tips.

Dix was second with a personal best (PB) 19.53 to overtake Tyson Gay (19.58) as the fastest American over the distance. He, however, claimed the $40,000 cash prize and Diamond Race trophy for the best season-long consistency in the 200m event. Ashmeade also ran his PB in 19.91 while Jaysuma Saidy Ndure of Norway went under 20secs with 19.97.