UK runner admits making strides in Jamaica

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

LILLE, France:

Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake is a name that's quite familiar on the local track and field circuit; the former Jamaica College (JC) man doing well to make a name for himself in Jamaican high-school sprinting.

However, in Lille at the IAAF World Youth Championships (WYC) inside the Stadium Lille Metropole, the 200m specialist was donning a blue of a different kind; that of his home country, Great Britain, which he has been representing at the championships.

Mitchell-Blake, who finished fourth in the 200m at this year's Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships inside the National Stadium while competing in the royal blue of Jamaica College, crashed out of the WYC at the semi-final stage, finishing fifth in 21.61 seconds - a bit off his 21.54 personal best.

In the same semi-final his friend, Jamaican Odean Skeen, got ejected for a false start.

Mitchell-Blake had posted 21.66 seconds in Kingston to finish behind Delano Williams, 21.00, WYC star Odail Todd, 21.42, and Jazeel Murphy, 21.48 seconds, at Champs.

The child of two Jamaicans, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake was full of praise for his development since moving to Jamaica some four years ago, where he actually resides in Mandeville with his family, despite attending school in Kingston.

great experience

"I've been living in Jamaica for four years this September and it has been a great experience for me, I love Jamaica and love living there," said Mitchell-Blake after his semi-final.

"My experience in Jamaica has been great and it has taught me a whole lot about maturity, and I have definitely grown to become a better athlete since being there," he added.

A large part of that development, he explains, came during his three years of competing at Champs, an experience he is looking to transmit on to the international stage for his country.

"The truth is, when I first went to Jamaica I never really knew the magnitude of the event (Champs), but I have been there for three years now and it has been an amazing experience," Mitchell-Blake explained, before going on to sum up his thoughts on getting the chance to compete at the WYC.

"It's been a wonderful experience for me competing against the best athletes in the world of my age. I know I have some more work to do and I'll go and get it done."