Where has Male sprinting gone in Jamaica?

Since the departure of Usain Bolt from track and field Jamaica's male sprinting has been struggling. In fact, male sprinting in Jamaica has plummeted, reaching what appears to be an all-time low. And this is so, notwithstanding the fact that many promising athletes should by now making their mark on the global stage. Even as athletes like Asafa Powell and Nester Carter fade into the shadows and make their exit from global track and field.

Unmet expectations

When we think of promising athlete like the 2018 Commonwealth Champion, Kemar Bailey-Cole and athletes like Julian Forte, Tyquendo Tracey, Odean Skeen and Raheem Chambers, Jamaica should not be in this predicament with respect to male sprinting. Indeed, both Bailey-Cole and Julian Forte have long dipped below ten seconds in the 100m and should by now be at the top of world sprinting. However, they have not run true to form; they have not delivered on the earlier promise that was on display.

With the 2019 Qatar World Championship fast approaching, one is forced to ask, what are Jamaica's realistic chances to make it in the men's 100m and 200m finals, let alone to medal?

Analyzing the men's 100m

In analyzing the results of the 100m for the various meet for 2019, we have seen where only twelve men have gone below ten seconds. These include one Jamaican, Yohan Blake (9.96), four Americans in Christian Coleman (9.81), Noah Lyles (9.86), Justin Gatlin (9.87), Caravon Gillespie (9.93), two Britons in Reece Prescod (9.97), Zharnel Hughes (9.97), one Nigerian, Divine Oduduru (9.86), one South African, Akanie Simbine (9.95), one Cuban, Roberto Skyers (9.98), one Japanese, Abdul Hakim Brown and one Barbadian, Mario Burke (9.98).

On the cusps of sub ten seconds were found to be Mike Rodgers of the USA, and Tyquendo Tracey of Jamaica, both posting ten seconds flat.

Yohan Blake, the 2019 Jamaica's national champion and second fastest man in history in the 100m (9.69), is Jamaica's best hope as a qualifier. And if Jamaica was to medal in the 100m, Blake would be its best hope based on current performance. And this could happen due to the long track and field season leading up to the World Championship; Blake could in fact get better as the season progresses, even as others struggle to maintain peak form.

At the moment, the USA are early front runners in Coleman, Lyles and Gatlin, and could get a fourth spot if any of the three wins the 100m Diamond League series. Should a fourth spot be secured for the USA, it is not farfetched to think that USA could record a clean sweep of all the medals and also secure the fourth-place position.

Analyzing the men’s 200m

The men’s 200m could prove equally interesting. At the Lausanne Diamond League that was held on July 5, 2019, the twenty-one-year-old American Noah Lyles, recorded 19.50 over the 200m to become the fourth fastest over the distance. Equador’s Alex Quinonez was second in 19.87, and the Canadian, Andre Degrasse, was third in 19.91. Also when one considers the likes of the talented American Michael Norman and a fit Miguel Francis of Antigua, one must ask where will Jamaica male sprinting be in the aftermath of the Bolt era?