Jerome Blake’s journey to becoming Canada’s top sprinter this season has been a gradual process of improvement. The Kelowna native has had a standout year, culminating in his first national title in Ottawa on Sunday, where he set a new meet record of 19.95 seconds in the 200 meters, achieving a sub-20 time for the first time.
Prior to this, Blake also made headlines by running sub-10 in the 100 meters for the first time in his career on June 21 in Germany. Despite facing a disqualification in the 100-meter semis at the Canadian championships due to a false start, he managed to defeat Letsile Tebogo, the world bronze medalist from 2023, in a race in Italy on July 15.
Blake, who will celebrate his 30th birthday on August 18, explained that despite his age, he has only been a professional sprinter for about five to six years, as he initially started out in club track with limited training sessions. It wasn’t until his relocation to Florida in 2020 to work with renowned coach Dennis Mitchell that Blake’s performance took a significant turn for the better.
Reflecting on his training shift, Blake mentioned, “Moving to Florida exposed me to a whole new level of training under Dennis Mitchell’s guidance, making me realize the intensity required to excel in sprinting. I like to refer to this progress as ‘slow cooking,’ as it has been a gradual but rewarding transformation.”
Although Blake had previously gained recognition for his role in the Canadian men’s 4×100 relay team’s successes at the world championships and Olympics, his individual achievements this season have thrust him into the spotlight. His partnership with coaches Ryan Freckleton, Ryan Thomas, and Rana Reider in Florida has been instrumental in his recent success.
Winning the national title marked a significant milestone for Blake, who emphasized the importance of patience and focus in his races. Looking ahead to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he will compete in the 100 and 200 meters, Blake remains grounded in his approach, aiming to progress through the rounds without placing undue pressure on himself.
Despite his recent accomplishments, Blake remains humble and acknowledges that there is still room for improvement. Analyzing his performance at the nationals, he noted areas for refinement and expressed a desire to continue evolving as a sprinter.
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