Laurie Foster | Impressed by the women's 400 metres

The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, unlike that in 2014, took place outside of the usual short sprint-friendly season, which runs from July to early September, and those Jamaican track stars who turned up should be commended.

One of those who made the trip to Australia was the 2011 World 100 metres champion, Yohan Blake, a man who has been plagued by injuries in recent years.

Thankfully, Blake's coach, Glen Mills, has expressed his satisfaction with the athlete after his bronze-medal finish in the 100m. Many of Blake's fans were unhappy with the result. They had hoped for and expected a better time. However, Coach Mills has said that "Blake will bounce back."

After first expressing disappointment at the third-place finish, a further quote was, "His performance through the rounds indicates that he will continue to improve for the rest of the season."

Few things could have brought more pleasure, as Blake's supporters were pondering on two successive years of less-than-encouraging performances.

There are a few more Gold Coast efforts that have brightened up the nights of television viewing by track and field fans from this side of the planet. First among them was the 1:58.82 personal-best bronze-medal won by Natoya Goule in the 800m. She was up against the African juggernauts - Caster Semenya of South Africa and Kenya's Margaret Wambui. A number of ardent followers of Goule who were accustomed to her racing style have admitted a heart flutter when she stuck around in the latter stages of the race. It was where she usually surrendered to the heat of the final sprint to the tape. But not this time, as she proved equal to the challenge and stuck it out to finish an impressive third.

FIELD EVENTS GLORY

First and second from former Calabar High School duo Fedrick Dacres (68.20m) and Traves Smikle (63.98m), respectively, in the men's discus, and the top spot in the women's shot put by Danniel Thomas-Dodd (19.36 national record), further emphasised a twist in the usual medal-seeking areas for Jamaica. One is convinced that coaches Michael Vassell (Excelsior High) and Julian Robinson (Calabar High) continue to be excited by the showings in this area which they pioneered at times to those unwilling to accept.

Ever since Shericka Jackson showed her face at the senior level, it was clear that as soon as she maximised on her sprinting prowess, she would fulfil promises of being the nation's most outstanding female quarter-miler ever. This came together at the Gold Coast as she took the 200m silver medal in a best-ever 22.18 seconds. Her most potent challenge to the required end is that Bahamas queen, Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who also bestrides the two events with equal competence and commitment. The duel between the two should feature many a global event in the future, given that they are both in the mid-twenties.

Le-Roy's 400m effort was inspiring.

From a personal point of view, no event at the just-concluded Games was of more appeal and joy than the women's 400m. Foster's Fairplay has tracked the progress of the Maurice Wilson-coached Anastasia Le-Roy, from her junior years during which she ran the 200m at the World Juniors in Beijing in 2006. What first impressed was the fact that a plethora of girls who were made prominent at Holmwood Technical High under Wilson's guidance had sought other avenues of expression to pursue the sport after high school. Ana, as she is affectionately called, stuck to her roots.

Her first-ever sub-51 400m for her first medal at this level - a silver - a stunning 50.57 seconds - was inspiring. It marked a journey of sustained energy and effort, lasting over 10 years but still not completed. At the age of just over 30, one hopes that she will go on to reap the rewards of her efforts to enhance her image on the world stage in this discipline. Given the proven measure of the man, there can be little doubt that coach Wilson shares this view, and his willingness to give her added support and encouragement will be unstinting.

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