It could be me soon, says Daley

After an injury-plagued year, Herbert Morrison High’s DeAndre Daley just wanted to get through the season healthy, with an improved personal best in the Class One 100 metres. He got all that and more as he was a part of history.

Daley was second in a new lifetime best of 10.14 seconds for silver, as Kingston College’s Bouwahjgie Nkrumie made history becoming the first schoolboy to break the 10-second barrier, winning the title in 9.99.

Daley has experienced championship finals before, and in a season where he was involved in a car accident early and was hampered by injuries, he says that being a part of a record-breaking night has opened the realm of possibilities not only for him but for those to come after.

“Anything is possible, it could be me sometime soon,” Daley said. “I’ve experienced enough to know what a championship final is like. I just went out there with a clear mind to compete and finish healthy.”

Daley thought that he could have gone even faster in the final, given his belief in his abilities and his relentless drive to perfect his craft.

“I’m never satisfied because I know my talent level and how fast I can go. I definitely thought I could have run faster,” Daley said. “Now it is just to go back to the drawing board, to correct whatever mistakes that I have made and run a better time.”

At last year’s Carfita Trials at the National Stadium Daley won the 100m title with Nkrumie finishing second. Nkrumie took the time during his post-race interview on Wednesday to praise Daley’s resilience after a hard year.

“I’m very proud of DeAndre, knowing he had injuries and now coming to produce a big personal best. I’m very proud of him,” Nkrumie said.

Having been a part of history, Daley said that he is more motivated than ever to improve.

“I have been battling injuries and to finish healthy I’m really pleased. I can look back at that race, see myself in it and prepare myself for the future,” Daley said.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com