TOKYO, Japan — Bryan Levell prefers to do his talking with his feet. Not one for many words, wild celebrations, and outward expressions of emotions, Levell presents a measured but resolute figure — qualities that were all on display as he took his place in Jamaican sprinting history on Friday.

Levell, in 19.64 seconds, produced a mature and gutsy display to hold off a torrid challenge from Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo (19.65), finishing third in the 200m final at the World Athletics Championships in a close finish behind Americans Noah Lyles (19.52) and Kenny Bednareck (19.58).

The 21-year-old’s effort was the best time he has ever run and is also the third-fastest by a Jamaican behind Usain Bolt’s 19.19 world record and Yohan Blake’s 19.26. It followed other impressive runs in the championships — a 19.84 effort in the heats followed by a 19.78 run in the semi-finals.

“It gives me a good feeling knowing that I am up there with the best in the world, Noah and Kenny. They are really good competition — well all of the field was good competition — but knowing that I could come out here and give my best, I feel really good,” Levell told the Jamaica Observer.

“I am satisfied. I gave my best, I got a personal best, I have nothing to feel ashamed of or disappointed about,” Levell said in an understated tone. “It’s a good feeling, I am a part of Jamaican history in the 200m so it really means a lot.”

Levell’s calm demeanour off the track was evident on it, as he held his nerve after a storming bend, facing pressure he had never faced before in his life — the defending champion to the inside, the Olympic silver medallist to the outside and the Olympic champion breathing down his neck.

Surrounded by predators, Levell, meek in nature, became one himself in the fight for the line.

“I don’t allow anything to faze me,” he said. “I just wanted to get off the turn with them, and just held my nerve and kept my knees going up.”

“The execution of the turn could have been better but 19.8 and 19.7 in the heat and semi, I am new to some of the times, so I think — and I wouldn’t say it’s an excuse, but it doesn’t matter how easy it looked, it still took a lot out of my legs, so it was just for me to come out here today and give my best.”

Data shows that Levell ran the best curve — no surprises there — covering the first 100m in 10.03 seconds compared to Bednarek’s 10.09 and Lyles’ 10.12. The difference came in the speed endurance phase of the contest, where Levell ran 9.61 seconds over the last 100m of the race, the slowest among all competitors, and like he said, perhaps an effect of his output in the earlier rounds.

As a comparison, Lyles ran 9.40 seconds in the last 100m of the race and was the fastest in the field, with Tebogo being next best with 9.48 and Bednarek (9.49).

It was certainly a competitive and exciting contest, one that Levell thoroughly enjoyed — even if it would be hard to tell.

“The 200m is a very nice event to run,” said Levell. “I am not a man of emotions, so honestly I feel happy, but I am not overexcited.

“But my biggest takeaway from the experience is the fun of it, have fun and compete, don’t doubt yourself and trust God.”

There has been much talk about unavailability for Jamaica’s 4x100m relay. Despite completing his individual mission and ambition, Levell could not shed any light on whether or not he would be available for the team.

“I am not sure; I cannot comment on that as of now,” he offered.

Relay or not, Levell has made his mark on the sprint world. There’s a new player in the game and while you may not hear him coming, he will certainly be seen.

LEVELL… I don’t allow anything to faze me

From left: United States’s Kenneth Bednarek, Jamaica’s Bryan Levell, and United States’s Noah Lyles compete in the men’s 200m final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)