Having run a season’s best at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo, Netherlands, recently, coach of veteran Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake, Gregory Little, believes his charge is slowly finding his rhythm ahead of next month’s National Championships.

Blake, who is the 2011 World 100m champion, clocked 10.05 seconds at the meet to finish second.

The race was won by Great Britain’s Reece Prescod, who ran a season’s best 9.99 for victory. Dutchman Raphael Bouju ran a personal best 10.09 for third.

Little told the Jamaica Observer that the 33-year-old Blake has had a slow start to the season due to a number of minor injuries, but he is now hitting his stride with every race this season.

“Yohan has had a slow start to the season due to a slight injury that he had earlier this year and that kind of set him back for about four weeks,” said Little.

“However, he is back trying to run races to get himself in shape for the National Championships and also for the World Championships this year,” he said.

“He ran four races in Europe recently and he had a season best of 10.05 seconds and that within itself was a good run from him,” Little told said.

“However, he is nowhere near where we want him to be…because we want to lower that time at the National Trials.”

Blake is the second-fastest man ever in the 100m with 9.69 seconds behind his compatriot and former club teammate Usain Bolt (9.58).

He won two silver medals in the 100m and 200m at the London 2012 Olympic Games, both times finishing behind the legendary Bolt.

Blake, who is a former St Jago standout, is currently fifth fastest Jamaican this year behind his Titans clubmate Ackeem Blake (9.89), Oblique Seville (9.95), Bouwahjgie Nkrumie (9.99), and Julian Forte (10.03).

Blake, who has been struggling with a hamstring injury over the past few years, surprised many last year when he stormed to victory to win the men’s 100m event at the 2022 National Championships in 9.85 seconds.

In that race he beat the favourite, Seville, who was second in 9.86.

Little, along with Michael Frater, who are the head coaches of the Titans Track Club, pointed out that once Blake remains healthy in the build up to the National Championships, which will be held July 6-9 at the National Stadium, then he could retain his title.

“Yes, I believe that he will be right there at the National Trials because he is focused and determined to do well,” Little said. “However, we still have some little things to iron out before the trials because we have to correct the last part of his race, and once he gets it right, then he will be okay and running fast.”

“Experience will also play a very important role at the National Trials because Yohan is a very confident person, and once he gets everything right, then he should be okay to make the national team,” Little stated.