To God be the glory - Todd's prayers answered with 100m victory
Published:Friday | July 8, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
Lille, France:
While on one knee awaiting the starter's instruction to get into the 'set' position, Odail Todd closed his eyes and whispered a soft prayer.
"Lord, please help me to win this race. Please, Lord," he prayed.
"Set"; and the silence inside the Stadium Lille Metropole, in France's northernmost city, at that point was ringing decibels of tension and expectation.
Off he went; one of the first out of the starting blocks and the first to cross the line in a lifetime best of 10.51 for the Green Island High school student as he became the new boys' 100m world youth champion.
Todd, who certainly would not have run the 100m had last-minute withdrawal Jazeel Murphy made the trip to France, ensured a storybook end to this chapter of his World Youth Championship assignment. He now turns his attention to his pet event, the 200m.
The 17-year-old could hardly contain himself, hugging teammates Megan Simmonds and Chrisdale McCarthy - who had just competed in the girls' 100m hurdles final where they finished fifth and sixth, respectively, and bouncing with joy as he made his way towards reporters.
Feels great
"It feels really good, it feels great," he beamed. "I just have to thank God that I was able to come out here and do my best and my best turned out to be good enough."
He added: "I'm really happy with this win and I really can't thank God enough for this. He was the one who made this possible."
Eager to continue his celebrations, Todd continued: "I just want to thank Jamaica on a whole for supporting me and I'm happy that I was able to bring home the gold. I know how important this event is for us and I'm just happy that I was able to make the country proud again."
See related story in sports section.