ATHS:Blake runs 100m in year's fastest time

Blake cruised to win in what he dubbed a “surprise” time at the UTech Classic athletics meet on Saturday in Kingston and said he was ahead of last year’s schedule.

The sprinter, who surpassed Darvis Patton’s previous world best this year of 10.04, also joined world 100m record-holder Usain Bolt on the Racers club relay that captured the 4×100 relay in 37.82 seconds, also a 2012 world best.

Blake, his long hair braids bobbing in the rain, made up for a less than perfect start with an extended drive phase to outclass a 100 field that included World University Games champion Jacques Harvey, who was a distant second in 10.10 seconds.

“A good little run,” Blake said.

“I just came here to have fun, as you can see in the 4×100. I am in pretty good shape and given the conditions this was a good run.”

Blake said he could have produced a faster time but obeyed the instructions of coach Glen Mills to “just go out and take it easy” in the rain and leave the race without an injury.

“I am a bit ahead of schedule but coach is pulling me back a bit,” Blake said.

“Everything will work out fine. I am looking forward to running in London so the conditions here don’t bother me.”

Blake led four runners who broke the old 100m meet record of 10.20 seconds set three years ago in 2009 by Barbadian Andrew Hinds.

Last year in South Korea, Blake became the youngest world 100m champion by winning the final after Bolt was disqualified due to a false start.

Also running a 2012 world best was Beijing Olympic 400m finalist Rosemarie Whyte, who won the 400m in 51.13 seconds to replace Sherone Simpson’s 51.42 atop the season list.

Publisher: AAPNewswire

16 Apr 10:07 AM