By Eric Rosales, CTVOlympics.ca Staff
The Donovan Bailey Invitational is adding some serious star power to its starting blocks.
Organizers announced Tuesday that Jamaica’s Yohan Blake — the reigning 2011 World Champion in the 100m — has been added to the lineup and will run in the 100m event on June 16th in Edmonton.
“I’m very excited to come to Edmonton and race. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the city and am looking forward to experiencing Canada for my first time,” Blake said.
The 22-year-old is considered the top medal threat to fellow countryman Usain Bolt at this summer’s London 2012 Olympic Games.
Bolt, the triple gold medallist from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, is considered the fastest man on the planet, as he holds the world record in both the 100m and 200m.
But he has high praise for his training partner, Blake, who he’s nicknamed ‘The Beast.’
Blake isn’t too far behind his higher-profiled countryman. He’s run a personal best 9.82 in the 100m, and in 2011, Blake ran more races in under 10 seconds than any other sprinter in the world. He also is second only to Bolt’s 19.19s world record in the 200m, running it in 19.26 seconds.
Not only do they train together, but the pair was part of the four-man world-record setting Jamaican 4x100m relay team that took home gold at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.
In what was supposed to be the showdown between the two in the 100m in Daegu, Bolt was disqualified from the race for a false start. Blake went on to take the title.
“We’re thrilled to have an athlete of Yohan’s caliber compete in Edmonton, and we’re hoping he will eclipse the 10 second barrier here” said Peter Ogilvie, Meet Director and Executive Director of Athletics Alberta. “It’s a feat that hasn’t been achieved in Canada since the 2001 World Championships, which were held here in Edmonton.”
Blake made headlines earlier this year when he announced that he, too, was aiming for Bolt’s goal of four gold medals in London, in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m.
“It’s with great pleasure that we welcome Yohan to the Donovan Bailey Invitational,” said Donovan Bailey, the Canadian Olympic 100m champion and ambassador to the meet. “We are honoured to have Yohan as our first headliner.”
This is the third of six events on the 2012 National Track League Series. The showcase event also gives athletes an opportunity to meet Olympic standard times prior to their nationals and Olympic trials a few weeks later.
