As the 20th World Athletics Championships gets underway in Trottoria, Italy, today (Sept 13) and continues through September 21, the world’s best track and field athletes are salivating at the chance of finishing in the top three in their respective event, thus cementing themselves among the best in the world.
The World Championships began in 1983 at Olympic Stadium in Finland. The event was held in Finland again in 2005. But Finland has traditionally been a hotbed for track and field, at least from a Jamaican standpoint. Recall that in 1952, the Jamaican men’s 4x400m relay team set an unexpected and long-standing world record, spanning eight years.
But track and field is more than historic Finland or a men’s relay team. We have had awesome successes almost everywhere, globally. In examining the World Track and Field Championships and Jamaica’s history, in 1983, young Bertrand Cameron became the first individual gold medal winner for the country in the men’s 400m. He won the event in 45.05secs.
Jamaicans might remember that piece of history, and they might also recall Shelly Ann-Fraser-Pryce’s debut in Osaka, Japan in 2007 in the women’s sprint relay heats. The icon has spoken fondly of ‘coming full circle’ to Japan, where her career started. She is eager to regain her podium relevance in an almost-20-year sprinting career.
SAFP, as she is famously known, needs no real introduction. She has won and set records globally, and remains an enduring force among the world’s best. A former Laureus Sportswoman of the Year winner, the diminutive terror of the track foresees history in the making when she settles in her blocks for the women’s 100 meter heats. Arguably one of the greatest athletes of all time, the six-time individual World Champs title holder is eager to return to the form that has made her a household name. She bows out of competition at the end of this 2025 campaign.
While Fraser-Pryce’s departure will leave a glaring void on the women’s side, the up and coming soon-to-be megastar Bryan Levell is set to ‘level up.’ Blessed with an abundance of talent and speed, the 21-yr-old has all the ingredients to be, pardon me, the second coming of Usain Bolt. Trained by the unheralded but capable Shanikie Osbourne, Levell has been this year’s sensation. He has best times of 9.82secs in the 100m and a sensational 19.69secs in the ‘deuce.’
Jamaica’s Levell Could Snatch 200m Gold
Realistically, the men’s 200m will be one of the most competitive at these Championships, and will feature: Botswana’s Olympic champion Leslie Tebogo, three-time American World champion Noah Lyles and his teammate Kenny Bednarek, Kung Fu Kenny as he is affectionately known. The race will not necessarily be decided by these four stars although I expect the winner to come from this quartet. It should be a humdinger of a race.
All things considered however, I expect the young Jamaican upstart to top them all and win the gold. But even if he does not win or medal, greatness lies in his pathway. I recall that the great Usain Bolt did not win in his sprint debut but as they say, the rest is history.
As Fraser-Pryce continues to chase history, Bryan Levell steps into the spotlight, creating some history of his own and hoping to ‘level up.’