Some weeks ago, we asked the question: Is Mario Forsythe about to turn the corner in becoming a world-class sprinter? Based on his recent track record, we suspected that it was just a matter of time before he broke through the 10-seconds barrier. This season, Forsythe has been winning and lowering his personal bests.
Yesterday at the Rieti IAAF World Challenge, Forsythe, who started out with Nesta Carter as schoolboys but has been trailing him in times, answered that question with a resounding 9.95 secs personal best for third place in the 100m final. Earlier, he clocked 9.99 in the heat (+1.1 m/s).
Significantly, the race was won by Forsythe’s countryman Carter in a seasonal world-leading equalizer and personal best 9.78 (+0.9ms). USA’s Ryan Bailey finished 2nd in 9.88 (PB) with Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre in 4th in 9.97 and Jamaica’s Michael Frater in 5th place in 9.98 second. Carter’s and Forsythe’s performances are indicative of the vast and ever-improving pool of Jamaican talented sprinters.
The 24-year-old Forsythe, who had a previous best of 10.09, is now the newest member of Jamaica’s 100m sub-10 club, joining the likes of Raymond Stewart, Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt, Frater, Carter, Lerone Clarke and Yohan Blake. He is a member of the Racers Track Club where he has made steady improvement under Coach Glen Mills.
Carter, who has the starting leg on the Jamaican 4×1 relay team, is considered one of the best starters in the world. He joined the sub-10 group in 2008 (9.98) After leading American Tyson Gay for the first 70 meters last Friday in Belgium, then pressing Gay to the end, forcing him to run a 9.79, Carter lowered his PB to 9.85 for 2nd. His latest PB yesterday of 9.78, has served notice to the track world that the Jamaican top male sprinters are more than Bolt and Powell, and has put him fully on the watchers radar.