Jamaica Expects More Gold

Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images

by Teswayne Harris

Despite a few setbacks at the Beijing Olympics, Jamaica is still poised to grab a record medal haul. So far, the world has not seen the best of the Jamaicans who will certainly dominate the men and women 4x100m relays with the likes of Usian Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser, the 100m champions.

Former world record holder Asafa Powell was expected to earn a medal in the 100m sprint. But that did not happen; he choked again! Neither did 100m hurdles medal favorite, Delloreen Ennis-London who ran a good race, kept close to the leaders, but was unable to surge among the top three at the end of the race.

Who would have imagined that the three Jamaican girls who qualified for the 100m at the Jamaica trials, would have all medaled in the 100m.

And who would have thought that Shericka Williams, the third place finisher at the Jamaica trials, would have=2 0cleverly saved her speed for the last 100m in the 400m finals to earned a silver. Shericka could have caught Christine Uhurougu of Britain, the eventual winner, if the race had been longer. Nonetheless, her silver makes up for Ennis-London's failure to medal.

Jamaica's medal tall now stands at five with 2 golds and 3 silver.

So what’s next for Jamaica in the medal count

Today Bolt goes for gold and Michael Johnson’s record in the 200m. Johnson’s world and Olympic record of 19.32 set in Atlanta in 1996 is certainly within Bolt’s potential, but as we are learning from this Olympics, Bolt won’t run to his full potential unless he has serious and gold medal-threatening competition. He will need to go at full speed, without slowing down, to break the record.

His main challenger is defending Olympic champion, American Shawn Crawford. Crawford has not run close to Bolt’s season's best of 19.67. If their semifinal heat was any indication, then Bolt will have to run, instead of jog, to become the first man since Carl Lewis to win the Olympic sprint double.

Veronica Campbell-Brown is also poised to run for gold20in the 200m. When she did not qualify for the 100m at the Jamaica trials, she came back in the 200m with a scorching personal best of 21.94, which is the fastest time this year.

Seeing the impressive sweep by her compatriots in the 100m is enough motivation for Campbell who was a double gold medalist at the previous Olympics in Athens. She should hold off her countrywoman Kerron Stewart and American Allyson Felix to defend her 200m Olympic title giving Jamaica another gold.

It would be somewhat surprising if Felix does not medal and there is a Jamaican sweep. But as the Jamaican women showed us the 100m, anything is possible. Stewart has the second best time of the year, 21.99, and teammate Sherone Simpson ran the fastest quarter-final time going into tomorrow's semi-final.

Jamaica is also banking on 400m hurdler Melaine Walker who has the season's best time of 53.48 entering tomorrow's final to secure another gold medal.

But nothing in the Olympics is guaranteed. Hard work can lead to success, and God helps those who help themselves.

Bolt broke the 100m record wi th one of shoelaces untied; Shelly-Ann got a good start, never looked back and the rest is history; Shericka saved her energy for the end and came from nowhere to earn a silver medal.

With two golds and three silver medals, who would have thought that Jamaica might leave this Olympics with more golds than silver and bronze combined.

It just shows that we, as Jamaicans, are more than talented; we are blessed.

Every Jamaican is potentially a great Jamaican.

Bonita Jamaica
Beautiful Place. Amazing People.

See you in Jamaica.

Usain Bolts Jamaica to Victory

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

by Teswayne Harris

It was as if he knew he would win the race. It was as if he knew he would break the world record, one more time. It was as if he was running all by himself, in a lane and in a race all by himself.

But he was not. He was chased by 7 others, including his compatriot and former world record holder Asafa Powell. None of them could have caught him and by the time that was a thought, the race was over and a new world and Olympic record set: 9.69.

Running out of lane three, the man known as “lightning” was almost the last one to react to the start gun, but after the first 50 meters of the race, it was clear that Bolt had separated not only from Trinidad’s Richard Thompson, the 2^nd place finisher, but also from the rest of the field.

Participating in his first Olympics, the 6 feet 5 inches Jamaican Usain Bolt reaffirmed what everyone already knew: he is the world’s fastest man. But Bolt did not need 100 meters to claim the title as the race was won from about 70 meters.

Within 70 meters of the race Bolt started to celebrate, extending his arms outward and then beating his chest as he crossed the finish line. On this night, he did not care about a world record; an Olympic victory in the 100m for him, his family and his cou ntry was more important.

No Jamaican male or female has ever won a 100m gold medal at the Olympics. Bolt did it, bringing home glory to Jamaica and to every Jamaican national at home and abroad.

Bolt ran a very fast race and it took numerous replays to see actually how he did it. But one still has to wonder how fast can he run.

At 21, the Puma-endorsed athlete is still young and his ascendancy to the top of the world’s purest sport comes at a time when he has no real challenger or competition, either in the 100m or the 200m.

His main rival American Tyson Gay is coming off an injury and is on the decline. Countryman Asafa Powell is not a competitor and does not compete well in races when he has a challenger who can beat him. Powell runs better when there is no competition.

Bolt is incomparable. He thrives for the big events and the competition that it brings. Earlier this year at the Reebok Grand Prix, he destroyed Gay in his first big test in the 100m, setting a new world record 9.72.

Now he sets sights on the 200m world and Olympic record, 19.32, held by his idol, American Michael Johnson. Gay was supposed to be his main rival in this event, but an injury at the U.S. trials prevented him from qualifying. It was Gay who beat Bolt at last year’s world championship and revenge would have been sweete r for Bolt with the sprint double.

This week, Bolt will school the field in the 200m and gain his second Olympic gold. He will also ask his teammates Michael Frater, Nesta Carter and Powell, all of whom have sub 10.0 secs personal bests, to assist him in earning his third gold medal in the 4x100m relays.

It would not be surprising if Bolt earns three gold medals. In fact, Jamaica expects him to earn three gold medals.

But before the moment passes and our memory fades, let’s all savour the moment when Bolt crossed the finish line, beating his chest and running around the track, putting Jamaica in the world’s spotlight.

We have witnessed a Jamaican named Bolt as the fastest man on the planet. It was as if we, Jamaicans, knew that this moment would arrive.

Every country is great, especially Jamaica.

Bonita Jamaica
Beautiful Place. Amazing People.

See you in Jamaica.