Dear Editor,

The World Championships in athletics begins tomorrow in Doha, Qatar. It marks the beginning of the post-Usain Bolt era. And while for some the expectations are still high, the fanfare surrounding these championships is not what we have grown accustomed.

Usain Bolt won his first World Championships medal in 2007, a silver medal in the 200 metre sprint event. Incidentally, it was the first time Jamaica won 10 or more medals at the World Championships. It also marked the beginning of the Usain Bolt era in which we have gone on to have successful World Championships, except for the debacle that unfolded in 2017.

Jamaica’s dominance began in 2007 with a medal haul of 10, including one gold, six silver and three bronze, the following years were just as good, or even better:

• 2009: 7 gold 4 silver 2 bronze = 13 medals

• 2011: 4 gold 4 silver 1 bronze = 9 medals

• 2013: 6 gold 2 silver 2 bronze = 10 medals

• 2015: 7 gold 2 silver 3 bronze = 12 medals

However in the last World Championships, in London, in what was Usain’s last hurrah, Jamaica could only garner a disappointing three bronze and one gold for a total of four4 medals. It started poorly, with Bolt losing the 100m finals to his nemesis Justin Gatlin, and from that moment everything went downhill. It was a disappointing championships, one that we hastily forgot.

Now with the 2019 Championships are set to get under way the outlook is positive. The men’s 100 metre, blue riband event, gets underway with the heats on day one, and the final is scheduled for day two at approximately 3:15 pm Jamaica time. For the first time in over 10 years Jamaica has no real chance of a gold medal in the event. Yohan Blake, our best bet, is sure to give his best, but a top-three finish in the event would be a major achievement.

Nonetheless, the Championships promises to be better than London 2017 with several medal prospects. On the men’s side Federick Dacres is expected to bring home a medal in the discus, and with the addition of Nathon Allen and Akeem Bloomfield to the team the 4x400m relay team is expected to medal as well. Omar McLeod in the 110m hurdles and Tajay Gayle in the long jump are good prospects, but are not sureties. The prospects are much brighter on the ladies side as Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are both expected to medal in the 100m. Also, Elaine Thompson in the 200m, Shericka Jackson in the 400m, Danielle Williams in the 100m hurdles, the 4x100m relay, the 4x400m relay and Shanieka Ricketts in the triple jump have prospects of high placements. Shelly-Ann could also finish on the podium in the 200m, but this, too, is not a surety.

At a major Championships things will not always go as planned, but barring injury and disqualification the expectation is that Jamaica should be able to amass 10 medals; more than double that of 2017. Come Friday, when the fun and excitement begins, experts and fans alike will be viewing and cheering our athletes in their respective events.

Some of us still hope 17-year-old sensation Brianna Williams will be able to run so we can see how she matches up against the best and fastest women around. But we know that with her hearing incomplete, it might well not happen. However, a major highlight is bound to be Danielle Williams in the 100m hurdles. Her disqualification at trials and the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s initial stance on her selection eligibility, then to her winning the Diamond League and earning a wild card entry to the event at the World Championships, is all the motivation she’ll need to top her season off with a fitting gold medal.

Kemar Bogle

knb800@yahoo.com