by Desmond G. Palmer, posted on 6/26/2009
It's that time again, when Jamaica's track & field athletes at home and abroad descend on the National Stadium in Kingston for three days, beginning today, June 26 and ending Sunday, to battle for a place on the team to the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in the historic city of Berlin, Germany less than two months away. A significant number of junior athletes are booked to compete among their senior counterparts and some events are heavily loaded.
According to the JAAA (Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association), 47 men will be gunning to get one of the top three spots to represent the island in the 100m or to be among the top six who will make up the sprint relay four and two alternates; 30 will compete for the men's 200m top spots; 30 for the men's 400m; 20 for the men's 800m; 19 for the 
women's 400m; and 18 each for the men's long jump and 400m hurdles. In the several other events, the number of entrants ranges anywhere from two to 16.
While it may seem a certainty that Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell will guarantee themselves the first two spots in the final (not necessarily in that order), the remaining places could be anyone's guess because just about any card can play. None of the final eight can afford to make mistakes; however, mistakes will be made. Everything will come down to who executes best.
Until a certain point after Beijing, the only additional male sprinters that were being mentioned were Michael Frater and Nesta Carter. But then as this season got going, some other names began raising their hands to say, "Look, I am a factor to be considered here."
Let's begin with 19-yr-old Yohan Blake, the national junior record holder over the 100m who turned pro and is being trained by Glen Mills, Bolt's coach. As a Class 1 sch
oolboy at St. Jago High, Blake was eager to join the "big boys" on the 4x1 team 
and even harbored thoughts of anchoring. He competed in the 2007 national trials when he ran second to Nesta Carter in his heat, clocking 10.19 to beat other seniors. He was, however, pulled from the final because he "felt something" in his leg and his coach didn't want to take any chance.
This year, Blake has been holding his own among the big boys, running third at the Jamaica International Invitational and winning at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York in May. He continues to be determined about competing well at the senior level and in his own words realizes that "this is big-man t'ing now...serious business."
Blake's best time is 10.07 and he ran 10.11 while in high school. Will he break the 10-sec. barrier this weekend? Some onlookers expect the pace to be hot and believe that nothing short of running sub-10 will get him in.
Although the only time Frater ran under 10 secs. was in the final at Beijing, he has proven himself to be a major force even when it's believed that he wouldn't get to the final. He was sixth in the Olympics, but who can forget the blistering run he made when he anchored the relay at the 2005 Worlds and when he ran like a get-away car on the back stretch in Beijing to hand over to Bolt. Fact is, he gets up to full throttle in a split second and is therefore an excellent, key relay runner. He has the ability and experience to beat back the competition and book a place on the team.
Marvin Anderson, Blake's training partner and 2008 Olympian should not be ruled out. A 200m specialist with a personal best of 20.06 secs., Anderson ran 10.11 at the trials last year but has not surpassed that since then. He has done 10.18 this season and is focused on being there, too. The question is, can he come through to grab a place in the 100?
One name many are not mentioning is Steve Mullings. After his return from a two-year ban, Steve has had to deal with back problems and has not hit the form that he appeared headed. But this season, the old Steve is back, running fast times and looking awesome and confident. What are his chances of his sneaking into the top three spots?
On the women's side, Veronica Campbell-Brown who has an automatic bid for Berlin chooses not to compete in the 100m. A battle royal looms nonetheless with Kerron Stewart who has been burning up the tracks; Shelly-Ann Fraser, who despite issues that have set her back tremendously, has done fast early season times; Aleen Bailey who seems poised to dip under 11 secs.; Sherone Simpson who even when injured is able to pull out the stops to get the job done; Sheri-Ann Brooks, the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medalist; Simone Facey; and Schillonie Calvert, who has been scratching at the top to break out.
In the women's 400m no surprise is foreseen. The top three is expected to come from Shericka Williams, Bobby-Gaye Wilkins, Novlene Williams-Mills, Rose-Marie Whyte and Sherefa Lloyd.
The situation with the men's 110m hurdles is somewhat similar to the women's 400m when it comes to expectation. It is hardly likely that an outsider will upset the top three. Dwight Thomas has returned to hurdling and will battle it out with Richard Phillips and the veteran Maurice Wignall. At 33, Wignall won't predict where he'll place but is confident that he'll "be in there." Will he be able to cramp the style of his formidable rivals?
Filed Under: Track & Field