byLarry EderThis is Alex Mill’s second piece for RunBlogRun. Alex is a uni student in UK who loves track and field, but most importantly, understands the value of the written word and well-crafted story telling. His piece here, focused on silver medalist in the men’s 100 meters, Adam Gemili, adds to the patina surrounding the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We hope that you will like it!
With a grin big enough to stretch across the distance of the start line, Adam Gemili appeared to be confidence personified as he waved to the fans within Hampden Park whilst he waited to embark on his 2nd major championship final.
Having come through both his heat and semi with ease, the questions on every viewers lip was whether this university student from London could defy his age and gain a first senior medal?
Much to the crowds delight, the 20 year-old, who is starting to become a proven championship performer, delivered, to take 100m silver in 10.10. It was almost so much sweeter a moment for Gemili as he appeared to be heading towards becoming the king of Scotland during the 1st 70 metres of the race, following arguably the finest start of his quarter lap career.
Playing the villain by preventing Gemili of a truly golden moment on his home Island was Kemar Bailey-Cole[K B-C], a man who had previously been better known by the average athletics supporter for his relay capabilities.
Using his rangy stride to its full advantage, B-C recovered from an awful start to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Asafa Powell and Lerone Clark and become the 3rd consecutive Jamaican Commonwealth 100m champion in 10.00seconds. To in turn, step out of the shadow of his great relay teammates for at least the immediate future.
In the absence of national hero Usain Bolt, it was B-C rather than pre-race favourite and eventual bronze medallist Nickel Ashmeade, who seemed to realise the great opportunity ahead of him as claimed his slice of personal glory from the wedding cake that is international athletics competition.
The only thing you could argue was missing from his victory was a sub-10 second win. For the sceptics, that will reignite the embers of the debate as to whether this multi-national competition has become increasingly diluted. Yet I sense it won’t be too longer before the pair run even faster together on an even greater world stage.
Yet right now, although Bailey-cole’s ability should not be questioned, as he is an athlete who finished 4th in the world last year, many will ask just how well could he could go against a fully fit Bolt or Blake?
While the arrows alligned to the answer of that question will at least for now definitely point in the pair’s favour, the more opportunities B-C gets in big finals, the harder he will be to beat. I’d even go as far as suggesting that the experienced Nesta Carter faces a struggle to remain as Jamaca’s 3rd most talented sprinter.
As for Gemili, his post-race facial experience and overall ecstatic demeanour went some way to suggesting the he certainly wasn’t bothered by his time after achieving his goal for the evening.
Combined with his post-race politeness and down to earth reaction to his success it helped further emphasise the fact that this is an athlete with experience and maturity far above the years on his birth certificate.
If he can now recover well in the next 2 weeks, European 200m gold beckons for the sprinter, who last year finished an incredible 5th at the world outdoor championships.
Meaning that despite the summer’s British focus has surrounding the two latest athletes to run below 10 seconds in James Dasaoulu and Chijinju UJah, as well as world indoor champ Richard Kilty, it could well be that Gemili, a man who is yet to run under 10 seconds, who eventually gets the most out of this summer’s championship packed schedule.
