hubert Lawrence | Chasing Yohan

If Yohan Blake had retired in 2015 and some other Jamaican sprinter had done what he has done from 2016 onwards, most people would be pleased. This John Doe would receive plaudits for being fast and consistent in the 100 metres. There would be no outright praise in the absence of big medals, but there would be a modicum of respect.

That speedy John Doe would probably get some credit for reaching the 2016 Olympic final and two World Championship finals, and for winning a Commonwealth bronze medal. Add 18 sub-10 100-metre clockings and the picture would be fair. After all, the incomparable Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Nickel Ashmeade, Kemar Bailey-Cole and the forerunner, Ray Stewart, are the only Jamaicans to have even reached a World Championship men’s 100m final.

Comparisons

However, in this reality, Yohan is John Doe. As fast as he still is, he can’t outrun comparisons to the Yohan Blake who was World 100 champion eight years ago, who raced to times of 9.69 and 9.75 seconds in the 100m, and 19.26 seconds and 19.44 seconds in the 200m. That guy was just too good.

Sadly, injury stopped Yohan in his tracks. In 2013 and 2014, he suffered hamstring maladies, with the second requiring surgery to repair the damage. It’s a miracle he can walk, much less cover 100 metres in under 10 seconds.

In time, that will be a heart -warming story. For now, fans ask only for medals.

Modern sports science repaired that Yohan Blake but the new version isn’t quite the same. It seems that the repaired hamstring isn’t quite as strong and flexible as before.

His best time since his return is 9.90 seconds and that would have been good enough to win a medal in Doha, at the just-concluded 17th IAAF World Championship. In fact, everyone who ran under 9.90 at the 2016 Olympics and the Doha World Championship got to the podium. It could be Yohan’s turn next year in Tokyo at the Olympic Games.

He turns 30 late in December. That is the stage at which Carl Lewis won the 100m in world record time at the 1991 World Championship. Late bloomer Linford Christie zoomed the 1992 Olympics at 32 and added the 1993 World title at 33.

Jamaica’s men’s sprint crew could be stronger next season. Three-time World 200m finalist Ashmeade should be back next season from groin surgery, and if 2014 Commonwealth winner Bailey-Cole shakes off the niggles that stopped him in the National Championship final, the combined speed and experience of this trio will put the country’s 4x100m team back in the fast lane.

Perhaps new names might join them.

In the meantime, Blake remains the nation’s best 100-metre man. Since his horrific injury, he has broken 10 seconds four seasons in a row and, incidentally, he was the only Jamaican to break the old barrier this year.

He shared that achievement last year with Athletics World Cup winner Tyquendo Tracey, and in 2017 with Bolt and Julian Forte.

With the Olympics next year and the 2021 World Championships to follow, Blake simply has to ignore the noise, work smart continuously and aim high. His new target is sub-9.90. Once he gets there, a medal will be within reach.

Hubert Lawrence is a public relations specialist who attended the Olympics in Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London.