The 2009 athletics season is over and all Jamaicans world wide can be proud. “Chat bout likkle but talawah”, we dat. What a season, we can still boast the fastest man and woman in the world. After the XXIX Olympic games in Beijing, August 2008 where little Jamaica finished 4th over all with 11 medals including 6 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze, our athletes proved once again that we are a great nation.
Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world. His best time to date in the 100 metres men, 9.58 at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin. Can he go faster, we all believe so. “Him look too easy, him no bust yet.” As we say in Jamaica, “them think sey him done, him just a come.” As to Asafa Powell, now that he has taken the world from off his shoulders, watch out. To date his best time in the 100 meters is 9.72 in 2008. He was the original fastest man in the world, paving the way for Bolt and I believe he has more to offer. Still on the 100 metres, let’s not forget our reliable, consistent Michael Frater. You can count on him to be in the finals at any major games. That’s no easy feat. And if all that is not enough, Jamaica has another youngster on the rise, Yohan Blake. Already he has clocked 9.93 in the 100 metres, look out for him.
Shelly-Ann Fraser, our Olympic and World Championship golden girl. Her best time to date in the 100 metres women 10.73 also in Berlin in August 2009. She has perfected her rocket start and proven beyond a doubt that little is not necessarily less. Our other golden girls, Veronica Camplell- Brown 200 meters, ever reliable, Melaine Walker 400 meters hurdles, the great entertainer, Brigitte Foster Hylton, 100 meters hurdles, finally totally enjoying herself and we are all loving it. One of my personal favorite is Kerron Stewart, her power of appearance and humility of spirit is beautiful. Second in the 100 metres with a time of 10.98 in Beijing 2008 and again at Berlin 2009 with a time of 10.75 she is a force to recon with. I really, really had wanted her to get a part of the golden league prize. Hopefully, next time she will.
There are so many more of our athletes that I could mention, Dwight Thomas, Danny McFarlane, Isa Phillips, Sheri-Ann Brooks, Sherika Williams, Aleen Bailey, Sherone Simpson, Delloreen Ennis London, to name a few. Unfortunately they are too many to mention, that’s how great we are.
Well done athletes, continue to work hard and encourage our young people to strive to greatness which you have proven is attainable.
Nuff love.