Photo: Simone Facey and Yohan Blake express different emotions after winning their respective 200m finals at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Athletics Championships at the weekend. Facey became a senior national champion for the first time while Blake became double champion for the second time in his career.
The first time she qualified for the pinnacle of track and field eight years ago, it was in the capacity of an Olympic reserve and that is how it would end for Simone Facey. But this time around the first time national champion will know how it feels to stand in the starting block at this level and represent Jamaica.
Facey was in a confident and celebratory mood from the completion of the 100m final on Friday at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Athletics Championships, where she was able to say without doubt she would be in Rio. To her it was a satisfying fifth place finish in that final, where Elaine Thompson won in a world leading and national record equalling time of 10.70 seconds. Her reaction in an interview was indicative of what would have followed on Sunday.
“Overall it was a great race. I still think I could do a little better coming out of the blocks,but I can’t complain. I was fifth and I am going to Rio. It’s been a while I have not gone to an Olympic games. My first Olympics was in 2008 and I didn’t get a chance to run because I was more of a reserve for the 200m. So this is a big accomplishment for me tonight, but there is more to come on Sunday,” Facey assessed after her 100m performance on Friday.
The former Vere Technical and Texas AM University standout, duly lived up to her promise and was able to take all scalps in the 200m final, crossing the line in 22.65 seconds.
“The 100m was like a preparation for the 200m. So am happy I was able to come out here and do my best in the 200m and to get on the team. Thanks for all who worked with me. My coach, personal trainers, chiropractor, massage therapists, soft tissue specialist and my training partners and all who supported me. I am really grateful.”
Veronica Campbell-Brown 22.80 seconds finished second and Kali Davis-Whyte was third in 22.94 seconds. The defending national champion, Elaine Thompson was a no show for the final and confirmation came that she had applied for a medical exemption after experiencing hamstrings issues leading into Sunday’s final. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also failed to show for the final.
Just like he did in 2013, Yohan Blake ensured he will be jetting off to another major champion as the national double sprint champion. He defeated the field in a time of 20.29 seconds. The 100m runner up Nickel Ashmeade was once again relegated to second place in 20.45 seconds, the same time as third placed Julian Forte.
Blake was elated to know he was able to return from all his setbacks and is ready to push the work to another level.
“God is good. To know that I won the double four years ago and to come back and do so once again, it is a wonderful feeling and definitely I will just go back in training and work harder,” said Blake.
“The feeling is really good. Four years ago, I won. Four years in the future, I won again. That just shows I have heart. God has been been working miracles in my life. This is what miracles are all about. I listen to my coach, I execute my race well and I get the victory.”
The double Olympic sliver medallist is already eyeing faster time as he moves towards the Olympic Games. He revealed he could have gone below the magical 20 seconds barrier, but the main focus was to cross the line first.
“The plan is to go back in training,” Blake said. “I need to focus on driving my foot, so I can be faster. … I could have gone 19 today but I just needed the win,” he explained.
Defending bronze medalist Warren Weir finished fourth and misses out on a chance to run in the event in Brazil. Weir finished third in Beijing where Jamaica claimed an historic 1-2-3 when Usain Bolt won the event and Blake finished second.
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