Photo: Kingston College 400m Class One record holder Akeem Bloomfield
As Champs 2016 creeps onto the horizon, Akeem Bloomfield carries his own international ambitions close to his heart.
Yardie Sports caught up with the standout junior athlete as he watched his teammates in action, from the stands, at the recently held Youngsters Goldsmith Meet.
When quizzed about his expectations of the ongoing season, Bloomfield indicated that he is thinking big this season.
“You have to think big, you have to put yourself in that position where you want to achieve the best and have a mind set to go out there and do it. It’s also important to have self-discipline,” he remarked.
The remarkable run by Bloomfield at last year’s Championship was history making as he became the first Jamaican schoolboy to run the 400 metres under 45 seconds. In an astonishing display, Bloomfield clocked 44.93 seconds to win the Class One race.
The rather humble and hardworking Neil Harrison coached star is not into calling times, and not putting any records in his plans, but he knows that it’s the work that produces the results
“I am not going to say I will go faster or slower than last year. I am not really going in with plans for records. But I know once I am healthy I will perform at my best.”
Following Champs last year, continued his phenomenal rise in the 400m, capturing the Under-20 gold at the 2015 Carifta Games in a record 45.85s as well.
These achievements have set the youngster on everybody watch list as they are looking for him to now simply go faster and faster. The fans, both the locally and internationally, are eyeing this year’s championship and a lot are just anxious to see what he will produce.
“A lot of people are expecting me to run fast this year, that’s a fact, but what I can say is that things are looking good and I hope for the best, but I am not really pressured to perform.”
A man that takes his physical training serious, is also conscious of the fact that he must be mentally prepared for battle. And despite him not debuting yet for the 2016 season, he thinks conditioning is what is important for good results this season, rather than early seasonal debut.
“In order to be a champion you have to take your physical training serious as well as your mental training, because without a strong mind even if you have a strong body, it doesn’t mean you will be successful. So I am focused on getting in the work and expect the best.”
Not short on strength, and the belief that he can achieve more, Bloomfield revealed that once he gets inside the stadium, and stands in the moment, he hopes to use the energy of the crowd to unleash his best.
“It’s a fact, I am training good and I feel somewhat ready, but still cannot say what will be what. But on the day when I am on the field and the crowd and all the energy, then I will know for sure. But I can’t really say much right now,” he noted.
Coming out of his final campaign on the ISSA Boys and Girls championship healthy is very much important for the KC standout, as he looks for international representation this year.
“The most important thing for me though going into to champs is to come out healthy. One of my main goals is to make the World Junior team and to compete at my best”.
While the World Junior Champions may be his first international priority, there are those who think that making the Olympic team to Rio is not out of the question for the talented quarter miler.
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