Champion boy athlete for Champs 2007 finishing ahead of the field in the Class One boys' 100m heats at the National Stadium during GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Championships

Yohan Blake, 17-year-old track and field phenom from St Jago High School, is living his dream of being a gold-medal-winning athlete with record-breaking performances under his belt and household-name status to his credit.

In his first year as a Class One athlete at the recently concluded GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Champs at the National Stadium in Kingston, Blake clocked 10.21 seconds, to set a new national high school 100m record, only to lower that mark to 10.11 on Saturday at the Carifta Games in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

At Champs, he also took gold in the 200m and led his team to record-smashing runs in the 4X400m and the 4X100m - becoming the first high school to post a time under 40 seconds for the latter event and was named the champion boy athlete for Champs 2007 .

For the humble fourth-form student and World Junior bronze medallist, who was born in St James, everything has been happening so quickly that every small chance he gets, he stops and savours the moment.

On the day of his interview with Teenage at the Spanish Town-based school, he is not looking much like the fearless, track-blazing athlete we saw demolish the 100m field on television, resembling instead a young khaki-clad schoolboy keeping himself company under a big tent pitched in the centre of the campus, as teachers and ground-staff clean up following their Founders' Day celebrations.

As music blares from a nearby speaker and students transform the schoolyard into a sea of green and brown, Blake prepares to talk to us about life as the new, young track star everyone is talking about, his academic pursuits at St Jago, life off the track, plans for his future and why Asafa had better watch out.

Teenage: With all the success you've been having lately, and so early in your life, how are you handling life in the spotlight?

Yohan Blake (YB): I feel very good. You find people coming from all over to talk to me and give me advice. Some of them I have never seen before in my life and sometimes it is hard to balance what they are saying, especially because many of them were not there when I just came to [St] Jago, when I was nobody. I am a very observant person so I tend to watch what people say and do. The most important thing is that I listen to my coach [Donnie Hawthorne] because he was there my whole life. All my life I wanted to be in the spotlight. Growing up, my parents [Veda Blake and Shirley Blake] didn't have the money, and to reach this far today gives me a very good feeling. I can't describe it. My parents are very supportive and my sister [Simone, 29] is with me all the way. The family support is there.

Teenage: Is it true that your new name is Yohan Great? Because that is what we heard.
YB: (Laughs) A teacher here [Miss Monique Castle] started calling me by that name since Champs and other people have started using it since (Laughs). My name is still Blake, but I don't mind people calling me Great, it just shows how much they love what I have been doing for the school.

Teenage: So you're the BMOC (Big Man On Campus) here. How does that feel?
YB: It makes me feel very proud because as a youngster I didn't believe I would have this chance to do what I'm doing and create such an impact on people at the same time. So, I give all the thanks to God, my parents, my teachers and my coach. Also, I don't like to take all the credit for myself because with the relays at Champs, in particular, it was a team thing. I couldn't just get up by myself and break the record. We worked as a team. So I want to big up my teammates.

Teenage: The life of any student athlete usually involves balancing sports with academic obligations. What has that been like for you so far?
YB: I make sure that I train only five days a week because I take my school work very seriously. This year in fourth form, I'm trying to do two CXC subjects in June: Office Administration and Social Studies. It takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice but I'm getting it together. A lot of the teachers have been helping me. Right now I'm free to go to anybody I want to. [Blake pursues a mixture of Science, Business and Arts subjects at school]. You have to learn to manage your time so that sports doesn't clash with your academic schedule. I put more time and interest in my schoolwork. The only thing that can clash with my schoolwork is girls and they are giving me a hard time right now.

Teenage: What are some of the major track and field engagements you have in the coming weeks and months?
YB: I have the CARIFTA Games coming up in Turks and Caicos [currently in progress]. I also have the PAN-AM Games in June in Brazil and the World Championships in the summer.

Teenage: With so many upcoming events to prepare for, what is your training schedule like?
YB: I train after school every day and on some weekends when I don't have track meets.

Teenage: Considering the many jaw-dropping performances at Champs over the years, and in 2007 in particular, many Jamaicans believe ISSA should start testing student athletes for performance-enhancing substances. What is your view?
YB: Well, I think it should be done. They don't do testing at Champs but whenever you race overseas, you get tested. I think they should start testing athletes at Champs even though I don't think cheating is going on but you might never know. The thing is that the generation is getting faster so the performances on the track are going to be better. I know that I am not taking anything. I don't even take vitamin tablets because my coach isn't sure about them. I'm just running off my normal body.

Teenage: Talk to us about your views on Asafa Powell.
YB: He's one my biggest idols. I love to talk with him and get advice. The last time I spoke with him was at the Grace Jackson meet before Champs. It really means a lot to me whenever I hear him speak of me as well, because I'm one of his biggest fans even though I'm almost as big as him.

Teenage: So you're going to lower his world record?
YB: Yeah man, I'm getting there. I'm going to reach his level one day and then surpass it.

Teenage: What are some of the future plans you have been considering?
YB: Basically, I would love to pursue a track career for about 10 years and then I want to leave and pursue gynaecology.

Teenage: Why gynaecology?
YB: I find the female body very fascinating.

Teenage: So what are your college plans?
YB: I am not sure. I don't have anything confirmed in mind as yet. I have a few years to go before I make that final decision. It also depends on what my coach thinks is best for me.

Teenage: Earlier you mentioned something about "the trouble with the girls". Explain.
YB: Trust me. Since my success, girls have started coming around more than ever. You find all different numbers calling me late at night and I don't even know how they get it. It can be a real distraction, but I don't let that bother me.

Teenage: So do you have a steady girlfriend?
YB: No, I don't have a steady girlfriend right now. I love to be by myself even though I hang out with friends from time to time.

Teenage: What are some of your other interests and hobbies?
YB: I love to go out with friends to the movies and sometimes I play cricket. I also go to church. I have been a Christian since I was 12 years old. I also love to read, play video games, sit and talk to girls and give trouble (Laughs).

Teenage: My small cousin says he wants to be a track star like you one day. What is your advice for him?
YB: I would say train hard and, as a lot of people say, keep focused. But don't spend too much time doing track because you have to make sure that your schoolwork gets done too. You can be as fast as Asafa Powell but you have to get your schoolwork at the same level so that you can express yourself properly and give a good interview. And in anything you do, you must always put God first.

Teenage: What is the ultimate goal you hope to accomplish?
YB: Well, my ultimate goal for the future is to make it in life, come out to something good so that I can help my mother and my father and the rest of my family. And the last and final thing is to break that world record.

Teenage: Do you live by a motto?
YB: If you want to be somebody and if you want to go somewhere, you better wake up and pay attention.

- reidt@jamaicaobserver.com

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