The news none of us athletics fans heading to this month’s Commonwealth Games wanted to here, was today confirmed; Yohan Blake will not be competing at Glasgow 2014.
The announcement, which is not entirely surprising, comes after Blake took the decision not to compete at last weekend’s Jamaican trials.
Speaking at a press conference ahead tomorrow’s Diamond League event in Lausanne, Blake, 24, said: “The Commonwealths are something I find intriguing, it’s a really good games to be involved in, but we have come to a decision that it was in our best interest not to run there because our main focus is really on something different, I’m not saying I wouldn’t run there but we’re go to think and take a different measure to things.”
On his alternative focus, he added: “Winning, I’m focused just to get back to the number 1 spot in the world in the 100 and 200m and of course you know to get back to the level where I was running fast times and also to get ready for the next world championships and then the Olympics and also the one after that as well.”
While he is not alone in ruling himself out of the individual events at the competition, Blake has decided against following in the footsteps of his training partner Usain Bolt, who recently made himself available for the 4x100m at the event.
Blake, the 2011 world champion and joint 2nd fastest man of all-time, will now turn his focus on proving that his decision was vindicated by producing fast times, starting in 200m in Lausanne. Despite only having raced on the Diamond League circuit once this season, where he finished a disappointing 2nd in New York, the Jamaican insists he is in good form: “I’m feeling really good, I must say, I’m a man of surprises, I like to surprise my fans , I messed up in New York but the season’s going fine so far.”
Even though he may not be turning out in Glasgow’s showpiece event, the Jamaican is at least expected to appear at the Diamond League event 2 weeks earlier, something that should soften the blow slightly for fans.
As for who will be representing the Caribbean nation at the games, the announcement is expected to be made some time today.
