Americas' Continental Cup team loses 4x100m sprinter Blake
Yohan Blake of Jamaica was looking to help the Americas in this weekend’s Continental Cup in Split, Croatia, but the 100m sprinter has pulled out of the event after suffering cramps yesterday.
“It is not serious but we have decided to finish the season now,” said Blake's manager, Cubie Seegobin. “He was only scheduled to run the 4x100m relay at the Continental Cup”.
Blake was running at the Palio della Quercia meet in Rovereto Italy. During his victory over Justin Gatlin of the United Sates, Blake said he experienced discomfort at about the 80 metre mark.
It is not uncommon for athletes to experience late season injuries after a strenuous season. Most commonly the decision to shut an athlete’s season down early is a preventative decision, and Blake is not the only athlete to miss the Continental Cup this year in order to ensure a healthy 2011 season. Fellow Jamaicans, Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell, and American Tyson g*y, all 100m sprinters, will also miss the Continental Cup.
It looks as though Blake has a good career ahead of him after losing close races to g*y in the 100m and the 200m. He set personal best times this season of 9.89 in the 100m, and 19.78 in the 200m.
The Americas will have a void to fill in the 4x100m event with most of their top athletes in the event not participating. Remaining on the Americas 4x100 team is Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles, Wallace Spearmon of the United Sates, and Daniel Bailey of Antigua and Barbuda.
Bailey is also scheduled to run in the 100m along with Monzavous Edwards of the United States, who is likely to take Blake’s spot in the 4x100m.
Other options include runners from the 4x400m: Jeremy Wariner, Bershawn Jackson, and Greg Nixon of the United States, Ricardo Chambers of Jamaica, or Nery Brenes of Costa Rica.
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