Daegu Diary - Long distance Stulla

Saturday, September 3, will be remembered as a monumental day in the history of Jamaica's track and field.

It will be forever etched in the annals of local sporting legend, listed in the corridors of our athletics culture, and is sure to herald a new beginning - a source of hope and pride for Jamaicans in every corner of the globe.

It's the day that one man faces and grabs his destiny with both hands and, as the masses that will witness this spectacle wait with collective anxiety, the question to be asked is: "Canna he cross it?"

What the hell is happening on Saturday, September 3, you may ask? It's the day Jamaica's reigning media 100m champion tries to achieve what no other Jamaican media representative has managed to achieve before - a win in the IAAF World Championships in Athletics Media 800m race.

ambitious hopes

Yes, folks, as I mentioned some time ago during our IAAF World Youth Championships coverage from Lille, France, I have been invited to take part, and although I am more reknown for my sprinting ability (just ask TVJ's Jeremain Brown - the man I beat into second place in that 100m race; and, yes, I'm going to milk that story till it dies a natural death!).

Ok, now back to this 800m. Honestly, maybe a win is a bit ambitious and, in reality, a finish would perhaps still be the best ever performance by a Jamaican media representative and come next week, win, lose or drop down, I intend to cross that finish line ... in a position other than last!

I was reminded early this morning that I needed to register for the event and ensure that my highly anticipated clash with IAAF communications manager, Yannis Nikolaou, who had issued his threat in Lille, comes to fruition.

Well, my entry has now been received and even though as a Jamaican, I am naturally somewhat averse to any race longer than 400m, it's a sacrifice I'll have to make for the greater good of our reputation here; Long Distance Stulla!

I would just like to go on record in saying that Ricardo Makyn, our photographer who has accompanied me here, has been anything but encouraging. In fact, if it was left up to him alone, I wouldn't even consider this race.

"So, when you plan to do some training, or at least some exercise?"

"Well, I guess if you actually finish the race, that's a good thing."

"If yuh change your mind, mi naw tell nobody enuh."

"If you drop down mi sure fi catch that shot (picture)."

With a friend like him, who needs enemies?

On another note, I have noticed that every other person in South Korea seems to be named 'Moon' or 'Kim'. It must be confusing to call your friend in a crowded place.

I promise I'll find a crowd before I leave here and shout "Moon" and tell you what happens (laughs).