Jamaica Gold

Jamaica gives new meaning to the gold in its flag.

By L.B. Swift

One of the most exciting World Track and Field Championships to date took place in Berlin, Germany. From Jamaica’s dominance in the sprints to impressive performances by a new wave of aspiring young athletes from other countries, this year’s World Track and Field Championships was a showcase of fresh talent to look forward to in the future.

Following the Olympic Games in Beijing, Track and Field needed to continue the exciting performances to further promote the sport. The Jamaican track team made sure once again that their stunning performances in the 2008 Olympic Games in China were no fluke. In fact, Jamaica managed to snag more gold at these World Championships then in last year’s impressive gold medal totals in Beijing.

The headliner, of course was Usain Bolt. Bolt previously shook up the world in Beijing with not only three gold medal performances, but three world records. In these championships the humorous, free-spirited Bolt shattered his previous 100 meter record with a 9.58 time in the men’s 100 meter final. The United States top contender Tyson Gay tried to close on Bolt, but his swift American record time of (9.71) was only good enough for a silver medal. Jamaica’s Asafa Powell held on for the bronze medal. Bolt seemed to improve his start over the course of the year following the 2008 Olympic Games. You wouldn’t expect an athlete with a towering stature in the 6’5” height range to burst out of the blocks so quickly and be already noticeably ahead of the pack by mid-race. It’s scary to think that Bolt may have mastered every phase of his race besides the head turning side glances as he looks for any possible competition when nearing the finish line. His reaction time out of the starting blocks and smooth transition into his drive phase made him untouchable.

What more can be said about Bolt? Oh yeah, the men’s 200 meter final was also contested at these World Championships. Once again, Bolt’s explosive start dominated the field before he even came off the curb. It was an amazing sight as athletes far behind in the final half of the race had to have known that their home stretch battle would only be for silver and bronze medals. With Bolt’s top competitor, Gay out of the 200 meters with an injury, Bolt had no one to push him. Bolt still managed to stun the near capacity crowd and track analysts with his second world record performance of the championships with a clock shattering 19.19 seconds. The Jamaican Track team continued to stack their trophy case with top results in the men’s 4×100 relay. With Bolt running the third leg, the contingent managed to get the baton around the track with average but adequate exchanges ensuring themselves a gold medal. The Jamaicans finished just off their previous world record time set in Beijing of 37.10 seconds with a swift 37.31 timing.

The Jamaican women’s team proved that their outstanding performances in Beijing were not one hit wonders. Jamaica’s overjoyed Sherry Anne Frasier exploded out of the starting blocks in the women’s 100 meter final and handled her business early as she blazed down the track, setting a personal best time of 10.73. Second place in the 100 went to fellow Jamaican Keron Stewart. Stewart was able to close stoutly in the final meters, but couldn’t overcome the textbook start of her country mate. Frasier and Stewart once again matched their 1-2 finishes from the 2008 Olympic Games. The U.S.managed to avoid a Jamaican sweep of the medals this time though, as Carmelita Jeter held off former hundred meter World Championship gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown for the bronze medal. Jamaican women also struck gold in the women’s 100 meter hurdles, 400 meter hurdles and 4×100 meter relay. The longer distance sprint golds went to the U.S. as the men and women blew away the competition in the open 400 meters and the 4×400 meter relays.

Jamaica wasn’t the only country to showcase their youthful contingent of future athletes in the sprint events. Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Panama had noticeable performances of one athlete in his teens and two other competitors in their early twenties. Trinidad and Tobago had impressive showings from athletes Jehue Gordon and Renny Quow. At only 17 years of age, Gordon had an admirable fourth place finish nearly snagging a bronze medal in the men’s 400 meter hurdles final. In the men’s open 400 meter final, Renny Quow made his way to the medal podium. Quow, with his late running style, closed on the field and managed to capture a bronze medal. Another impressive young athlete, Ryan Braithwaite, from the small island of Barbados made history as the countrie’s first Track and Field Championships gold medalist. Ryan Brathwaite was able to hold off the close of two of the USA’s top hurdlers in the men’s 110 meter hurdles final. Braithwaite had the best lean at the finish line and was able to take away a gold medal by the slimmest of margins with a 13.14 seconds clocking. In the men’s 200 meter final Panama’s Alonso Edward scored a silver medal by holding off the pack of athletes giving chase to Usain Bolt in the men’s 200 meter final.

Track and Field has desperately needed saviors to erase an unspectacular past filled with controversy and questionable performances. Hopefully, this time around, track fans can truly cheer and stand behind their new wave of spectacular athletes. Track and field fans in the present and future need to feel reassured in the fact that arduous training regimens and natural and exceptional talent are the sole reasons for astonishing results.