Expect a faster Yohan at Worlds – Coach

GREGORY LITTLE, coach of former 100m World Champion Yohan Blake, says he is expecting his charge to run a much faster time at this month’s World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Blake, who is the second-fastest man of all time with 9.69 seconds, sped to a season’s best 9.85 to win the 100m at the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championships last month.

In fact, that time marks the fastest that Blake has run since 2012. He is now the joint third-fastest man in the world this season behind Americans Fred Kerley (9.76) and Trayvon Bromell (9.81).

Little, who is the head coach of Titans Track Club, told The Gleaner the Blake has been working assiduously this season, especially on his technique.

“Blake is well focused, serious and getting in the work done every day and ready to go,” said Little.

“He doesn’t want to talk much this year because you realise that he is staying far from the interviews and so he is just in a different mood now and just wants to get the job done,” he said.

“I am never one to put a time on athletes, but I just know that Yohan should do much better than what he did at the Trials,” Little said.

He pointed out that Blake’s progress was hampered last season after hernia surgery, but he has now fully recovered and is ready to put on a good showing at the World Championships.

“He is very determined, Yohan is ready and can’t wait to go,” Little said.

“As a matter of fact, from last year Yohan has been very serious after he came from the hernia surgery because that was what held him back last year,” he said.

“Last week was recovery week after the Trials and so this week we are stepping up the ball game, and so we are just waiting for next Friday to start the ball game and to have a lot of fun,” he said.

robert.bailey@gleanerjm.com