Orville Taylor | Olympendence fever

Look at the Olympic flag! A red and blue circle at each end, on a white background; the colours of our American friends up north. But this little rock, with a population of 2.87 million, less than 0.9 per cent of America’s population, stands in the middle of the banner, with three circles; green and gold, flanking the black in the middle. Prior to the start of these games, Jamaica had won 88 medals; 87 in track and field. To date, 76 years since our first appearance, only Georgian, David Weller’s cycling bronze in 1980, breaks the athletics’ monopoly.

Well, one argument is settled; and now we know that the exceptional times she ran, were not flukes. And tell me, if Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is not simply the greatest female 100 metres sprinter that we have ever seen in our lifetime. And trust me, despite the years of my celebrating the awesomeness of Merlene Ottey, whose best of 10.74 would be in this final, as always ‘Mummy Rocket’ spoke with her legs, giving us her best when it truly mattered. Shelly is the greatest of all time, our ‘GOAT’. Congratulations to the tiny nation of St Lucia. Now no one has to ask ‘Sa ka fet?’ Julien Alfred has come of age.

By the time this column is out, the semifinals of the men’s 100 metres would already have gone, and Noah Lyles is filing a complaint with the police traffic department over the blinding speed of Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville. In a few hours, we should be singing “Eternal Father” for the first time since 2016, when Usain St Leo Bolt rewrote not only track and field history, but our imaginations.

My appetite was whetted on Friday morning, when the 4x400 metres mixed relay saw a courageous leg by Stephenie-Ann McPherson, setting a national record of 3:11.06, en route to the final. After everything that she had been through, the decisive 49.97 anchor leg was even more than we could have expected. For reference, only American Kaylyn Brown with 49.45 was faster on that leg, as they smashed the world record.

We have another week of track and field competition, and my prediction was for three medals across both 100 metres sprints. Here are my general predictions for the total number of medals and events.

FINGERS CROSSED

My fingers are crossed that Shericka Jackson will win the 200 metres. Of course, until I see her in the semifinals, it will be difficult to predict what colour medal. Yet, I am putting my money down that she will actually win the gold. My only prediction for the men’s 200 metres men is that Bryan Levell will again improve upon his personal record.

No medals are expected from the men’s 400 metres, but Nikisha is the right Pryce, and she should go one better than Lorraine and Fenton and Shericka Williams who have each mined silver. Five medals, so far. If she relaxes and finally runs the race that she is capable of, without trying to match steps with their competitors, Natoya Goule-Toppin will finally medal. However, this is a wish rather than a prediction.

Never rule out a champion, because Hansle Parchment will be the ‘duppy conqueror’ and is going to frighten the hell out of Grant Holloway, and Rasheed Broadbell is hungry. However, only one of them will medal. We are at six.

Danielle Williams is a big-race performer, and she will be in the 100 metres hurdles final. However, Ackera Nugent has sub 11 second 100 metres potential in those legs; and the race will be over before Oluwatobiloba Ayomide Amusan can say her name. That is seven medals now.

Ruschell Clayton should be moulded and hard and solid as the clay in her surname, and not rush as in the first part of her Christian name. Both Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin Levrone can run the 400 metres hurdles in faster times than she can run the flat 400 metres. The bronze is hers to keep. Yet, the hurdle are races of rhythm and either of the two favourites could buckle and give her the silver. Either way that is number eight.

LONG SHOT

It is a long shot, but Malik James King and Roshawn Clarke are smelling the legacy of Winthrop Graham in the men’s equivalent. One of the three, between Rai Benjamin, Allson dos Santos, and Karsten Warholm, will crumble and likely pay dearly. While it is not a solid prediction; just remember that I said so.

Wayne Pinnock in the long jump, and Jaydon Hibbert in the triple jump will dig into their Kingston College bags and stand on the podium. This makes 11 to add to the triple jump medal from Shaneika Ricketts.

Thanks for the creditable showing in the mixed 4x400 metres relay, we will make it up. Fret not, with a team comprising Pryce, Stacey Ann Williams, and at least one of the hurdlers, we could take down our own national record. The only question is which of the three medals we will get. That’s number 12.

Let us see how the female 200 metres goes. Nevertheless, any combination which involves Tia Clayton, Shashalee Forbes and any of the two senior Olympians will bring home a piece of metal. That is a baker’s dozen.

Get the relay practice in, boys; and Lyles will only be able to catch more rumours and controversy, but we can mine gold in the 4x100 metres relay. And here we really make 100 Olympic track and field medals.

While it might not be on the tables, based on current form metals in the throws are not completely unlikely but let us ‘discus’ it in midweek, before we putt our shots where our mouths are.

Happy independence, Jamaica.

Dr Orville Taylor is senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology at The University of the West Indies, a radio talk-show host, and author of ‘Broken Promises, Hearts and Pockets’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and tayloronblackline@hotmail.com