OUCH! – Injury sidelines Blake for at least six weeks
YOHAN Blake has been sidelined for at least six weeks after medical reports indicated that his injury appears more serious than first thought.
As a consequence, the 100 metres World Champion will miss the Jamaica Invitational, as well as the Doha and Shanghai Diamond League races.
When contacted yesterday, head coach Glen Mills refused to comment on the injury, but referred the Jamaica Observer to his Blake’s management team.
“I am not making any statement, his management team deals with his medical situation,” said Mills, who has guided Blake to the heights of greatness.
However, Timothy Spencer, a member of Blake’s management team, without giving too much away, confirmed that the injury is more than just a cramp.
“The essential point is, he did an MRI and his injury was more serious than first thought. It’s not a bad injury, it’s not just a cramp, and he won’t have any competition for approximately six weeks,” said Spencer.
Blake, 23, who became the youngest World Championship 100m champion in 2011 at age 21, pulled up clutching his right hamstring with what appeared to be cramps in the 100m last Saturday at the UTech Classic, while trailing eventual winner Kim Collins at the 50-m mark.
With the Moscow 2013 World Championships set for August, Blake should be ready by then, but will miss at least three meets starting with the Jamaica Invitational set for May 4 at the National Stadium; The Doha Diamond League, the first meeting in the IAAF Diamond League calendar on May 10, and the Shanghai Diamond League on May 18.
“It’s not a bad injury, but you have to take the long view and don’t rush his return and get a more serious injury,” warned Spencer.
Blake, who has a personal best of 9.69 seconds and 19.26 seconds for the 100m and 200m, respectively, tweeted after the race that: “Am good my twitter family just a cramp.”
“He is resting and recovering. The point is, it’s not a serious injury and to ensure proper and maximum recovery, out of an abundance of caution, he is going to be out of a couple of meets,” Spencer reiterated.
“The May meet certainly and after that we will see. And he is fairly disappointed about that too,” Spencer concluded.
