The nasty Jamaican records Ackeem Blake shattered by clinching bronze in the 60m final at World Indoor Championships

ATHLETICS The nasty Jamaican records Ackeem Blake shattered by clinching bronze in the 60m final at World Indoor Championships

Mark Kinyanjui 21:13 - 02.03.2024

Blake finished third behind Christian Coleman and Noah Lyles, who clinched gold and silver respectively, but ended two unideal recent Jamaican record in short sprints.

When Ackeem Blake crossed the 60m mark in the 60m final of the ongoing World Indoor Championships in Glasgow on Friday, he ended two unwanted Jamaican records that had existed for seven years.

Blake finished behind two Americans Christian Coleman, who set a world leading 6.41 seconds and Noah Lyles- 6.44 seconds

Blake broke a seven- year drought since a Jamaican man won a medley in the short sprint at any senior global championships since 2017 when Usain Bolt was third in the men’s 100m at the World Championships in London.

Blake, who was a semi-finalist in the 100m at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon in 2022, had won his first round race in 6.55 seconds and his semi-final race in 6.51 seconds.

The 22-year-old also ended another bad Jamaican record as he became the first Jamaican man since Asafa Powell in Portland, Oregon in 2016, to win a medal in the event.

Speaking on his podium finish after the race, Ackeem Blake told Citius Magazine:

“As I said I'm the youngest in the field, winning this medal means a lot to me. It's my first Indoors, so it's a pretty great feeling.”

After a strong 2023 that saw him clock multiple personal bests and win a bronze at the Budapest World Athletics Championships, Ackeem Blake is looking better than ever in the Olympic year.

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