‘I’m feeling great!’
Fuelled by his outstanding performances last season, rising Jamaican sprint star Ackeem Blake said he is on a mission this season to stamp his class as the most dominant male sprinter in the world.
The 21-year-old Blake, who had a breakthrough season last year, underlined his credentials this season when he clocked a personal best 6.42 seconds to win the men’s invitational 60m event at the Gibson McCook Relays at the National Stadium on Saturday. He erased his previous best of 6.61.
“I am happy for the win because I think I executed a good race,” said Blake. “I was just focusing on my start and get out maintain and stay upright right through the line, and I did it. I am very pleased about that,” he said.
“This was a very quality field because all of these guys are very fast, but the experience that I got last year has prepared me for this and I am just hoping to continue improving throughout the season.
“Last year was a good season for me and so I want to do much better…I am going to just keep working hard and believing in myself and to be the best that I can be,” Blake added.
He has a personal best 9.93 in the 100m, which he achieved last season at the National Championships in June at the National Stadium.
Meanwhile, World Championships 100m finalist Oblique Seville was given second in 6.42 seconds, while former world 100m champion Yohan Blake was third in 6.45.
On the women’s side, double Under-20 100m champion Tina Clayton won the women’s 60m in 7.02, with Sashalee Forbes (7.03) second, while Ramona Burchell finished third in 7.04.
Clayton said she was happy with her execution of the race.
“I am feeling really great about this win because I just came out here to execute properly and I think that I did that,” said Clayton. “I could not have asked for a better time because I think it was a very fast race and so it is good to get the victory,” she added.
Kingston College (KC) won the boys’ Class One 4x100m final in a time of 40.41 seconds and Jamaica College 40.36, while Camperdown High copped the third spot in 40.37 seconds.
In the Class Two equivalent, Calabar High stormed to victory in a time of 41.31 to beat JC, who claimed the runner-up spot in 41.49 seconds. St Elizabeth Technical finished third in 41.73 seconds.
KC won the Class Three 4x100m in 43.39 in front of Calabar (43.41) and St Jago (43.76).
JC topped the field for the boys’ Class Four event in a time of 45.46 seconds, while St Jago took second spot 45.61 and Calabar High 46.31.
For the girls, Hydel High School delivered a fine performance to dethrone Edwin Allen and win the girls’ Class One 4x100m relay in 44.25. Edwin Allen had to settle for second in 44.91, while Holmwood Technical finished third in 46.19 seconds.
St Jago stormed to victory in 46.04 seconds to win the girls’ Class Two event. They crossed the line ahead of Edwin Allen High, who clocked 46.25 for second, while St Mary High finished third in 46.87 seconds.
Wolmer’s Girls’ School claimed the top spot in the Class Three after a cracking performance. They crossed the line in a time of 46.09 seconds ahead of Edwin Allen (47.12) and Hydel High (47.46).
Meanwhile, Hydel High held off a fast-finishing Holmwood Technical to win Class Four in 48.86 seconds. Holmwood were second in 48.87, while Edwin Allen High took third spot in 49.90 seconds.