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Jamaican Track and Field World Now Has Have a Contender Who Will Continue Usain Bolt’s Legacy Further

Published 01/17/2024, 7:45 AM EST

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The 2009 World Athletics Championship beheld the track and field marvel in Jamaican Usain Bolt when he sprinted the 100m. In crossing the famed finishing line, he took 9.58 seconds. Since then, no track and field soul has proven to be victorious in toppling the record set by the phenom. Many came close as the reigning world champion, Noah Lyles, inflicted several attempts to go closer. However, the record remains in its place, undisturbed. However, from Jamaica, the record didn’t have much resistance in previous days. 

However, the Olympic year could see one or two hearty attempts from the native place of the record holder. The credit would go to a young prodigy who raised hopes through his recent fiery performances. 

The usual track and field days in Jamaica 

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Jamaica provided many sprinting hobnobs in the world of track and field on previous occasions. But recently, even after the rise of Shericka Jackson, the men’s category was in scarce need of someone who would challenge the American talents, Noah Lyles and Erriyon Knighton. In that veracity, a 22-year-old Jamaican native, Kishane Thompson, rose to the occasion to break the 100m jinx. The sprinter already had a few remarkable outings in the 100m last year. However, the track and field raconteur on X, Track Spice, watched him as more than just a spontaneous being. So in its post, the handle admitted him as the “Fastest Jamaican in the World 2023”. However, in its support, the Track Spice handle marked out some special silver lining in the sprinter. 

The first one was Thompson’s 9.85 timing in 100m in the Wanda Diamond League last year. And the second one was his 9.91 clocking in the Jamaican Championship. Both these events gave him laurels. But more than that, Kishane Thompson established himself in the world of track and field. The 9.85 timing reached him in the 6th position of all-time greats. However, both those exuberances still fell short of touching the nearest peak set by Noah Lyles. 

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The opponent in Noah Lyles 

Last year in Budapest, Noah Lyles made his attempt to tackle the 100m WR set by Usain Bolt. The American sprinter stopped at 9.83 timing, taking 0.2 seconds less than Thompson. But in the same season, the reigning world champion made 10 attempts under the 9.9 category. That ferociousness might be an issue for the young Jamaican. 

Read more: Reports Claim Noah Lyles Might Have Not One, but Multiple Coaches. Is This True?

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But Kishane Thompson didn’t show any worrying factor in him that would hinder his stellar continuing in 2024. Shrugging off the stiff opposition he might face in the future, the 22-year-old rather claimed, “The plan for this year is to go harder than ever, and to stay healthy, and to show you guys what I can do”. The ambition is there. Now it’s time to show that off in the tracks. 

Watch this story: Despite the Loss on Track, Shelly-Ann-Fraser-Pryce Won Hearts at World Athletics Championships

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Written by:

Prasun Chakrabarty

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Hello there! I am Prasun Chakrabarty, an Olympics sports writer at EssentiallySports. Being an adrenaline junkie, I take a keen interest in creating insights about various avenues of the sporting realm. As an ardent swimming enthusiast, I take inspiration from the Baltimore Bullet Michael Phelps and love to create insights on various nooks and crannies around the turquoise turf.
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Edited by:

Suman Varandani