Jamaica solidifies, then celebrates claim as a 'sprint factory' of athletes
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By Tim Johnson | McClatchy Newspapers
BEIJING — A few speedy steps that converted sprinter Usain Bolt into the world's fastest man Saturday were also great strides for Jamaica, his homeland.
In a stunning performance, Bolt smashed the world record in the 100-meter dash, clocking in at 9.69 seconds, and solidifying his Caribbean nation's reputation as a "sprint factory" for extraordinary runners.
"I know Jamaica is going crazy right now," Bolt said as he passed through a gauntlet of journalists leading from the National Stadium track to a changing room.
Three of the eight sprinters in the final were from Jamaica, including Bolt's friend and rival Asafa Powell, who held the world record until recently but came in fifth, and a third sprinter, Michael Frater, who came in sixth.
A nation of 2.7 million people, Jamaica brought 41 track and field athletes to the Olympics, and appears to stand a good chance of winning the bulk of the men's and women's sprints, the 100 meters, the 200 meters and the 4 x 100 meter relays.
Two Jamaican women, Sherone Simpson and Shelly-Ann Fraser, qualified for Sunday's 100-meter finals. And both its men and women teams will be strong contenders in the relays.
"We have a lot of medal hopefuls," said Herbert McGregor, a Jamaican long jumper, who cited his island nation's "training and technology, and I guess more heart and more drive."
Jamaicans who arrived in Beijing to celebrate the achievements of their Olympic squad were joyous at the prospect of new track and field champions.
"It's great for such a small island. It's great to see such good athletes coming up right now," said musician Julian Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley.
"I'll be smiling the whole night, yeah mon, and waving my flag all around Beijing," said Alan Beckford, 45, the general manager of the Jamaica Automobile Association.
Earlier in the day, at a party for Jamaican visitors hosted by the nation's embassy, Jamaicans voiced pride in their sprinters.
"We've been known all over the world for reggae, and this will mean we'll be known for something else," said Dalton Vaccianna, who is in the heavy equipment business on the island.
Dr. Herb Elliott, the Jamaican team's chief doctor, said his nation's athletes have been making history for half a century but that improvements have let them chalk up better scores.
"We have these new tracks. We have better nutrition, we have better coaching techniques," Elliott said. "When I ran, for instance, or when other Jamaicans ran, we didn't know so much about biomechanics and these kinds of things."
Elliott said Powell, who ran a disappointing 9.95, still ailing from an injury earlier in the year, far off his personal best of 9.74, will eventually heal and give Bolt a run for his record.
"We expect that Asafa will rebound," Elliott said. "We expect that when he comes out of his injury . . . it will be hell between the two of them."
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