News13 Jul 2007


Jamaica's Dexter Lee rules supreme in Ostrava

FacebookTwitterEmail

Dexter Lee of Jamaica wins the 100m final (© Getty Images)

Jamaica's sprinting tradition was once again demonstrated on Thursday's second day of the IAAF World Youth Championships when Dexter Lee took top honours in the Boys' 100m final.

With World 100m record holder Asafa Powell (9.77) in the senior category, junior Yohan Blake (10.11), despite his recent loss in Sao Paulo, Brazil at the Pan Am Juniors, and now, Lee, the World Youth champion, Jamaica could lay claim to having the fastest sprinter at all three age related areas recognized by the IAAF. 

Though he only achieved one of his targets, winning the gold, Lee, who is from the country of Herb McKenley, Donald Quarrie and reggae icon Bob Marley is fast becoming a household name in world sprinting.

Coming to Czech Republic, Lee predicted a 10.2 run and the gold medal, but despite only achieving the latter, he said: "I am still very happy."

"It's a really good feeling to be the World Youth champion. I tried my best and it paid off," said Lee, who was born after McKenley and Quarrie stopped competing.

Lee, the first Jamaica male to win the 100m at any global event, said a bad start contributed to him not getting a personal best.

"I don't know what happened at the start, but I found myself trailing for about 40 metres. The feeling improved in the last 50 metres and that was when I realized I could still win, so I just went for it," he explained.

In April, after winning the CARIFTA Games sprint double, Lee, in an interview with the IAAF website, sent a message to the world by saying "I would be going there (World Youth) to prove a point to the world, to let them know that I am the fastest youth."

And the boy, who lives with his mother Charlene Campbell in Catherine Hall, a community in Montego Bay, Jamaica's second city delivered on that promise, but said a lot of work was done after CARIFTA Games to prepare for these Championships.

He gave credit to his coach Claude Grant for helping him accomplish his gold.

"I would want to say thanks to Coach Grant for the hard work he has put in with me over the years, and especially this season," said Lee, a student at Herbert Morrison High, a school on the western end of Jamaica.

"He has done a tremendous job, especially within the last few months, so I must give him a lot of credit," said a jaded looking Lee.

While some may have doubted his ability to win coming into the Championships, his performances throughout the rounds would have suggested something different.

He opened up with 10.55 in the first round, and 10.65 in the quarterfinals, but it was his 10.46 in the semi-finals that looked the easiest as he won by almost three metres.

Lee admitted things were easy throughout the rounds, as "I was just running to quality for the final."

And in the semis, which were about an hour before the final, "I made sure that I did not do a lot of work, because I was saving myself for the final," explained Lee, whose personal best is 10.33.

Anthony Foster for the IAAF


 

Pages related to this article
DisciplinesCompetitions