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Mullings overcomes injury to bag berth

Published:Monday | June 27, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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Steve Mullings (right) getting third in the men's 100 metres final behind winner Asafa Powell (left). Powell clocked 10.08 seconds for first, Yohan Blake (not seen) was second in 10.09 and Mullings, third in 10.10. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Aldwyn Sappleton (right) winning the men's 800 metres in 1:49.07 ahead of University of Technology's Ricardo Cunningham (1:49.19) on Saturday's third day of the JAAA/Supreme Ventures Limited National Senior Championships at the National Stadium. - Ian Allen/Photographer
Kenia Sinclair (right) winning another national 800 metres title on day three of the JAAA/Supreme Ventures Limited National Senior Championships at the National Stadium last Saturday. The national record holder clocked 2:00.96. Natoya Goule (left) was second in a personal best 2:01.45. - Ian Allen/Photographer
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André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Steve Mullings battled a cramp in his calf muscle and a mishap at the start to book his spot on Jamaica's 100 metres team to the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Daegu, South Korea, finishing third behind Asafa Powell and Yohan Blake in the men's final late Friday night at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/Supreme Ventures Limited National Senior Championships inside the National Stadium.

In the minutes leading up to Friday's final, Mullings was actually unsure if he would compete and was the last to the starting blocks. Though bothered by the pain in his right calf, Mullings, the second fastest man over the distance this season with a 9.80 seconds clocking, was well aware of the mammoth task that he would have to face in 10 seconds or less.

And if that wasn't enough, the Lance Bauman-coached athlete's right hand struck Powell's left arm while the two left their starting blocks and disrupted his technique during the drive phase. In the end, Mullings and Powell, both recovered; the former posting 10.10 seconds while the latter registered 10.08 seconds to finish either side of Blake, who stopped the clock at 10.09 seconds.

Mullings was extremely excited about making the team and was especially proud of his achievement considering the challenges he had to overcome.

Very happy

"I got real good confidence, I was cramped up really badly and my coaches didn't even know if I was going to get through this race. I was the last one to walk over and was cramping up so I was just praying to God please let me get through this first 30 without a cramp," Mullings shared.

"I'm just thankful that I made the team, I was cramping up the whole time but I just decided to come out here praying to God that I could make this team and I'm just happy that I did," he added. "I couldn't get out of the blocks because my calf was tightening up so I tried my best to push through the pain the first 30m because I knew that with my top-end speed I could come back and make the team.

The qualification has given the 28 year-old renewed confidence going into the World Championships.

"I'm very confident especially knowing that I could make this Jamaican team even with a cramped calf. You can ask my agent, you can ask my coach, I didn't even know if I would run but to come and do this here at the Jamaican trials has certainly boosted my confidence even more going into the World Championships," said Mullings.