Bloomfield: A story of fate

DOHA, Qatar:

“It’s my first World Championships, so to make it to the final is an amazing feeling for me. It’s my first major games, first time representing Jamaica (individually) at the senior level. It’s a good feeling, and it’s just to move forward and hope for the best.”

Akeem Bloomfield could not be any happier, but there is a hint of fate where his 2019 World Championships participation is concerned.

When Bloomfield crossed the line in fifth place in the 200m at the National Senior Championships in June, he could not have imagined that he would, at this point, be preparing for the 400m final at the 2019 World Championships.

In fact, before that 200m final at Trials on June 23, Bloomfield had not run a single competitive 400m race, with the focus clearly being on the half-lap event, given his 19.81 seconds personal best, which was registered last year.

The decision to focus only on the 200m at the Trials was puzzling tomany, but having failed to make the team for the 200m, and with only the national champion and the fourth placed finisher in the 400m gaining qualifying times for the World Championships, Bloomfield had an opportunity to compete in the quarter-mile event here.

On July 21, in his second 400m race of the season, Bloomfield, running at the London Diamond League meet, posted a quick 44.40 seconds clocking, which made him the fastest Jamaican in the event this year, which led to him being named on the team for the 400m.

As fate would have it, yesterday he secured his lane in the final, with a 44.77 second third place finish in the semi-final, and will be joined by fellow Jamaican Demish Gaye, 44.66, who also ran third in his semi-final.

Things coming together

“The thing about fate is nothing happens unless it’s supposed to happen.

I qualified for the final. It means I have secured a place among the eight best 400m athletes in the world and once I have a lane in the final, I have another chance,” Bloomfield reasoned before touching on his interesting journey to this point.

“I made the World Championships final in the 400m, so I guess I can say I feel good. I was training more towards the 200m, but the season took a turn. But nothing happens if it’s not supposed to happen and we ended up doing the 400m and now I’m in the final and I give God thanks,” Bloomfield added.

Bloomfield was also elated to advance to the medal round and is looking forward to giving it his best shot when the final faces the starter tomorrow at 2:20 p.m. Jamaica time.

“I am pretty pleased with the performance tonight (last night). The execution was to get out and put myself in a good position and finish strong.

I am now in the final and I will see what comes, but I

am just going out there to run hard and give it my best,” Bloomfield said.

-A.L.

Bloomfield’s progression:

200m

2019 20.24 seconds Coral Gables, Florida March 16

2018 19.81 seconds London July 22

2016 20.66 Kingston May 21

2014 21.06 Kingston March 27

400m

2019 44.40 seconds London July 21

2018 43.94 seconds Eugene, Oregon June 8

2017 44.74 seconds Lexington, Kentucky May 26

2016 46.01 seconds St George’s March 26

2015 44.93 seconds Kingston March 28