Sat | May 18, 2024

The London race Jamaica isn’t in

Published:Sunday | July 23, 2023 | 12:12 AMHubert Lawrence - Gleaner Writer
Natasha Morrison runs the anchor leg of the 4X100m relay following the baton exchange from third leg runner Jonielle Smith as they compete in the qualifiers at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Q
Gladstone Taylor
Natasha Morrison runs the anchor leg of the 4X100m relay following the baton exchange from third leg runner Jonielle Smith as they compete in the qualifiers at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Friday October 4, 2019.

FROM WEEK to week, and especially since National Championships in Jamaica and the USA, the array of great athletes parading in the Diamond League has dazzled me. Today’s London meet is no different. However, the line-up that makes me scratch my...

FROM WEEK to week, and especially since National Championships in Jamaica and the USA, the array of great athletes parading in the Diamond League has dazzled me. Today’s London meet is no different. However, the line-up that makes me scratch my head is the women’s 4x100 relay.

The USA, victorious over Jamaica at last year’s World Championships, is there to face Belgium, Germany, two British teams and the Netherlands. I can only presume that the Americans feel the need to get race practice with the 2023 World Championships just around the corner.

Jamaica isn’t on the start list. An earlier suggestion of local relay practice hasn’t resulted in action. With most of our fastest women living and training in Jamaica, it seemed reasonable to expect that they could get together for practice and bonding. After all, this is what other countries do.

We’re different. Success rests on all the relays run in our high schools and the adaptability that our sprinters develop when they are young. The outcome is that we do our relay practice at national camps just before big assignments.

IDEAL RACE

This method depends on raw speed because in that scenario, there isn’t really enough time to refine baton changes when the top sprinters are understandably focused on their individual events. For this reason, today’s race would have been ideal.

London will host a third 100-metre clash between Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, the 2022 World runner-up, and American champion Sha’Carri Richardson, with the flamboyant Richardson leading the seasonal series 2-0. Even though Shericka has explained that her coaches at the MVP Track Club have her training through the Diamond League, a win would encourage her fans.

A sub-20 time for Noah Lyles will push the two-time World Champion past Usain Bolt’s top all-time total of 34 such performances. Lyles pulled even at the Racers Grand Prix in June and, as it was then, he will have Britain’s European 200 champion Zharnel Hughes as competition.

The other event to watch keenly is the men’s high jump. There are signs that Muta Essa Barshim is ready to fly again. In his illustrious career, the Qatari has jumped 10 times at 2.40 metres or better with his best four jumps coming in 2014 when he and Ukranian Bogdan Bondarenko had the world record – 2.45 by Cuban great Javier Sotomayor – in their sights.

In Silesia, Poland, on July 16, Barshim skied 2.36 metres and, perhaps, he will soon bring Sotomayor’s record back into reach. It would be nothing less than the three-time world champion deserves. If the man with a 2.43 personal best flies in London and if Jackson wins, it will take my eye off Jamaica’s empty lane in the 4x100.

Hubert Lawrence has made notes at track side since 1980.