Blake’s happy he’ll be pushed
FORMER world champion Yohan Blake yesterday welcomed Queenslander Trae Williams to the 10.10 Club and told him not to be “scared’’ when their paths cross at the Commonwealth Games.
Blake, who arrived in Brisbane as one of the gold medal contenders for the 100m at the Gold Coast Games, said he noticed Williams’s 10.10 sec run in defending his Australian title last month.
With only Commonwealth sprinters so far appearing in the top 30 for world- best 100m times in 2018, Williams ranks seventh on the list behind England’s Zharnel Hughes ( 10.01) and Blake ( 10.05).
“I saw the list. I’m looking forward to him being right beside me,’’ Blake said.
“Don’t be scared,’’ he added, looking down the barrel of a television camera.
“It’s really wonderful. Not many persons can run 10.10 in the early part of the season. It’s great, I’m looking forward to the competition.
“What I want, to start with the Commonwealths, ( is) to take over the dominance of the sprinting world. I want the Commonwealth Games to set the year up for me. Australia is where it all begins.’’
Williams has four of the year’s top 30 times in the 100m, after lopping time off his personal best in the race three times in the domestic season.
Hughes is one of England’s entrants next month in the 100m at the Gold Coast Games. Blake’s arrival in Queensland came within 24 hours of the withdrawal of Canada’s Olympic 200m silver medallist Andre De Grasse to prioritise an upcoming indoor race campaign.
“I was looking for some action in the 200m as well, so it ( De Grasse’s Games withdrawal) is bittersweet, but I think it will still be great,’’ he said.
Blake, who is not contesting the Games 200m, nominated as one to watch South African Clarence Munyai, who broke Olympic Wayde van Niekirk’s national 200m record on Friday with a 19.69 win.