Nkrumie not doubling up but promises big run in 200m
Published:Tuesday | March 7, 2023 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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The sprint double may not be in the future at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) for Kingston College’s Bouwahjgie Nkrumie but he is adamant about delivering in the event at some point this season, guaranteeing...
The sprint double may not be in the future at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships (Champs) for Kingston College’s Bouwahjgie Nkrumie but he is adamant about delivering in the event at some point this season, guaranteeing in his words “a super fast time”.
Nkumie continued his strong 100m season, capturing the Class One boys’ title at last weekend’s Corporate Area Championships in 10.32 seconds despite conditions far from favourable, with winds battering the National Stadium.
Since the 2021 season, Nkrumie’s focus has been on the 100m and not on the half-lap event, an event which in 2021 he raced five times and, at Champs that year, made the semifinals. He currently has a personal best of 21.31 which he clocked in the first round at Champs.
When asked about his plans for the event as well as his reasons for not doubling up, Nkrumie said that the reasons were personal. However, he was adamant about his potential in the event long term.
“For personal reasons, I am not running the 200m at Champs. But I have unfinished business in the event. I still think I am a better 200m runner,” Nkrumie said.
The long term is something that Nkrumie is considering not only in handling unfavourable conditions in his journey towards the next level but also where he feels he is best poised to maximise his potential in the future. Nkrumie took a step forward in the 100m during 2022 with silver in the Carfita Games as well as at the Under-20 World Championships in Cali, Colombia, to become the national junior record holder.
While doing the 200m this year seems to be out of the plans for Champs, it will be his focus for the rest of his campaign, guaranteeing that Jamaica will see his talents in the event.
“I doubt it. But I do have plans to do the double (at some point) this season,” Nkrumie said. “You are going to get a super 200m from me. Remember I told you that.”
Until then, his focus turns to the Carifta Trials which start on Friday as he targets a return to the team to have a chance of bettering that second-place 100m finish on home soil in the final. While not promising a win, he is determined to set the bar with a fast time of his own.
Believing that clocking sub 10 at Champs is in his future, Nkrumie says that the talent is there to push him to that goal, with the right conditions on the day.