Paul Wright | Competition heating up for a spot in Tokyo

The beginning of the track and field season has seen the resurgence of interest in the fortunes of our elder stars Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Asafa Powell, and any young pretenders with hopes of toppling those giants.

They did not disappoint. Both won their season openers. The post-Usain Bolt Olympics is necessary for us to reestablish ourselves as the sprint capital of the world. The defeat of our young sprint sensation, Briana Williams, in a 60m race in her season best of 7.18 augurs well for the future. She had some very big names in track and field behind her in the Millrose Games in New York.

The multiple pre-Champs meets across the island also confirm that our youngsters can, and are, stepping up to the plate in making the contest to make the Olympic team to Tokyo this year mouth-watering. Coronavirus scares, traffic mayhem, and murder statistics that refuse to show a decline mean that sports will continue to be our salve as we face the reality of life in Jamaica.

Leadership in sports has failed us. In football, from the pinnacle of World Cup participation, male and female, to humiliation. In cricket, from world domination to fighting for a place. In netball, from “sometimes third, most time fourth,” to “fighting to be fifth.” In track and field, from the adulation of Usain Bolt and being the sprint capital of the world to being number one again.

Tokyo and this year’s Olympic Games will be the dominant feature as we try to cope with the realities of life in Jamaica.

Early-season activities

We note with satisfaction, the early-season activities of those athletic Jamaicans who should be the architects of our mental stability. Asafa Powell, no doubt preparing for the national salute to his body of work over the years when he ruled the roost in one-off 100m races, which included the world record at one time, came from behind to be adjudged the winner in a tight 60m race. That he won was not really surprising, what was surprising was that he overcame a so-so start to catch and beat another runner who has his eyes on Tokyo. Dare we think of a new Asafa?

The ‘Mommy Rocket,’ Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, did the usual, what we have come to expect, dismantling a good field. Her time of 7.32 seconds, while not spectacular, was satisfactory as she admitted to getting rid of the cobwebs in her first real race of the season. Long jumper, Shawn-D Thompson of G.C. Foster College did 8.20m in that event. Just a shade below the qualifying standard for the Olympics. This fact, coupled with the speed work being fine-tuned by World Champion Tajay Gayle, gives us hope of at least two finalists in Tokyo this summer. Anastasia Le-Roy, our most consistent 400m runner, who still has hopes of an Olympic medal, was timed in a relay leg on Saturday at 52.40s over 400m. Early season promise of things to come? We certainly hope so.

Not to be left out are our juniors who are preparing for their annual showpiece: Champs. Sachin Dennis, a phenomenon from St Elizabeth Technical High School returned to active participation after a two-year hiatus, where he battled twin demons of injury and illness. His Class Two 100m run some two years ago made his absence perplexing. But on Saturday in a relay leg, he was reported as “looking good”. Awesome. Our young ‘female Bolt,’ Kevona Davis, ran a backstretch leg in a winning relay and her return to full fitness is obviously being tenderly handled. I am predicting that with this type of race selection, she will be on the team to Tokyo this year.

Those were not the only outstanding performances last week, but this start to the preparation for Tokyo gives us hope. Our place at the top of world athletics is a right! With no untoward interference from overzealous officials, who seem to blame the press for their own missteps, we are in for an exciting year. Go team!