Yohan Blake to take on the 200m field in Ostrava – IAAF World Challenge
Rising sprinter from Jamaica, Yohan Blake, will be leading the 200m field while appearing at the 50th Jubilee Ostrava Golden Spike meeting, which is part of the IAAF World Challenge. The event is scheduled to commence on May 31.
Keeping his previous performances in mind, the organisers of the event are of the view that the 21-year-old rising star has the right combination of talent and speed to surpass the world record of 19.83 seconds set by his compatriot, Usain Bolt, in 2008.
Blake, the world Junior Championships medallist of 2006 and 2008, has already clocked his career best of 19.78 seconds last year. In the 100m event, he marked 9.80 seconds on a wind assisted track in the Jamaica Invitational, earlier this month.
Commenting about his form and fitness for competing in the event, an excited Black said, “I am very happy with my training and progress so far this year, I feel confident, and I hope to remain healthy and injury free for the season. I look forward to competing
in Ostrava for the track and field fans there.”
Sharing his resolve to challenge the record set by Bolt, he added, “The 200 metres is still my favourite event. I will be going all out to set a very fast time in continuing my preparation for the 2011 World Championships this August.”
The 100m event will be lead by world record holder, Usain Bolt, where the formidable runner will encounter Steve Mullings, the current world leader who clocked 9.90 seconds along with Lerone Clarke, winner of the Commonwealth Games title. Fourth finisher
of the 2009 World Championships, Daniel Bailey from Antigua, Ivory Williams from USA, France’s Martial Mbandjock and Britain’s Mark Lewis-Francis will also take on the field in the meet.
Other prominent athletes who have confirmed their participation in the star-studded event include Japan’s Koji Murofushi, along with Olympic hammer throw winner of 2004 and 2008, Primoz Kozmus from Slovenia. The hammer throw competition will take place on
May 30 and is regarded as a part of the IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge.
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