Top 10 CARIBBEAN 100m Sprinters - PART 2

                               TOP 10 CARIBBEAN 100m SPRINTERS – PART 2

Wasting no time, let me get right back into the countdown for the top 10 prolific 100m sprinters the Caribbean region has produced over the years. The word prolific is not to be taken with a grain of salt because my time in the Caribbean has shown me that there are stellar athletes that have either turned to other sports or been consumed by the culture of the islands. Reminding you all that Yohan Blake or Asafa Powell are NOT on this list as they have both been disqualified and removed for serving doping charges. Giving credit where where it is due prior to the doping charges Asafa Powell is and will always be one of the best sprinters in the world still having broken the world record multiple times and running numerous sub 10 second races in excess of 80 times. 

Hermes’ Top 10 Caribbean 100m Sprinters continued...

5. Hasely Crawford (Trinidad and Tobago)

The Trinidad and Tobago Athlete of the Millennium was so justified as result of his gold medal performance in Montreal at the 1976 Olympic Games. Crawford claimed the first Olympic gold medal for his country and the title of the fastest man in the world winning the 100m event from lane 1 in a time of 10.06s. 

Personal Record: 10.06s (August, 1976)

Individual Medals: 1 Olympic Games Gold (1976) and 2 Commonwealth Games Bronze (1970, 1978)

Relay medals: 1 Silver CWG

Sub 10s Races (Legal): None

IAAF 100m PR Ranking: 179^th

TRACK and Field News Top 10 Annual Ranking Appearances: 5

4. Lennox Miller (Jamaica)

Jamaican sprinter in the late 60s and early 70s, along with his daughter Inger Miller became the first father and daughter combo to win Olympic Games track and field medals. With two individual titles at the Olympic Games, Miller demonstrated his dominance in the Caribbean throughout the period. 

Personal Record: 10.04s (1968)

Individual Medals: 1 Olympic Games Silver (1968) and Bronze (1972)

Relay medals: None

Sub 10s Races (Legal): None

IAAF 100m PR Ranking: 151^st

TRACK and Field News Top 10 Annual Ranking Appearances: 5

3. Donald Quarrie (Jamaica)

An ambassador for Jamaican track and field, Quarrie propelled himself to the top and as a major competitor both regionally and internationally. Quarrie still remains in the history books as the only athlete to win the Commonwealth 100m title 3 times in a row as well as the first male athletes to defend the sprint double title at this prestigious meeting. 

Personal Record: 10.07s (June, 2011)

Individual Medals: 1 Olympic Gold and Silver (1976) and Bronze (1980), 5 Commonwealth Gold (1970 and 1974)

Relay medals: 1 Silver OG and 1 Gold CWG

Sub 10s Races (Legal): 0

IAAF 100m PR Ranking: 203^rd  

TRACK and Field News Top 10 Annual Ranking Appearances: 6

2. Ato Boldon (Trinidad and Tobago)

The UCLA track star won the world juniors sprint double in 1992 and went on to become an NCAA Division 1 100 and 200m champion holding the meet record in the shorter sprint for over a decade. He is in the top 5 for most sub 10s performances in history among male 100m sprinters with 28 times run under legal conditions. Boldon still currently holds national records in the 50m, 60m and 200m events as well as the Commonwealth Games record (9.88s). A true track and field success with 4 Olympic medals and 4 World Championship medal he has not just earned but claimed this second spot. 
.   

Personal Record: 9.86s (1999)

Individual Medals: 1 Olympic Games Silver and Bronze (2000) and 2 Olympic Bronze (1996), 1 World Championships Gold (1997) and 2 Bronze (1995 and 2001) and 1 Commonwealth Games Gold (1998)

Relay medals: 1 Silver WC 

Sub 10s Races (Legal): 28

IAAF 100m PR Ranking: 15^th

TRACK and Field News Top 10 Annual Ranking Appearances: 7

1. Usain Bolt (Jamaica)

This is definitely no surprise that the fastest man in the world, Olympic Games champion and record holder, World Championships champion and world record holder, Bolt has set the standard and dared people to close the gap. A junior sensation in the longer sprints (200 and 400) and world junior record holder over 200m; Bolt switched to the short sprints in 2008 as a means to work on his speed for the 200m event and well the rest as we say, is history. 

Personal Record: 9.58s (August, 2009)

Individual Medals: 4 Olympic Games Gold (2008 and 2012), 5 Gold and 1 Silver World Championships Games

Relay medals: 2 Gold OG, 3 Gold and 1 Silver WC and 1 Gold CWG

Sub 10s Races (Legal): 40

IAAF 100m PR Ranking: 1st 

TRACK and Field News Top 10 Annual Ranking Appearances: 6

Well there you go ten of the Caribbean's finest, fastest and most successful when it comes to the 100m event. Honorable mention must be given to Marc Burns (TTO), Keston Bledman (TTO), Kemar Bailey- Cole (JAM), Raymond Stewart (JAM), Churandy Martina (NDA), Derrick Atkins (BAH) and Daniel Bailey (ANT). Although the opinion of mortals matters little to the Messenger God; if for some reason you feel the need to comment on my list, it is at your discretion to freely embarrass yourself with a counter of a better compilation of these speedy athletes.    

Messenger God

Sport Specialists Messenger

Mount Olympus

TOP 10 CARIBBEAN 100m SPRINTERS – PART 1

TOP 10 CARIBBEAN 100m SPRINTERS – PART 1

With the recent dominance of Caribbean, particularly Jamaican sprinters, it was only obvious that my attention would be drawn to this region of the world wondering where this talent has emulated from and what are their practices. Was it genetic, had they found ancient training methods that kept us Gods on Olympus at the top of our game and did they not only find these secrets but improve these secret fusing them with science? 

Observing the Caribbean islands over the past couple years it is evident the crop of natural athletic excellence that exist in these countries that just needs tailoring to achieve a proper high performance module. That being said there will be a few upcoming letters discussing very basic training methods for speed, power and agility that even I overlooked and forgot. My time in the Antilles region resulted in my yearning to know who the most prolific sprinters have been in the Caribbean since the Gods went into submission.

The list I built was based on and considered the following criteria;

1.       Athlete must be from the Caribbean region (born and bred, not as a result of relation to heritage) taking into account geographical association within the Greater and Lesser Antilles.

2.       Championship honors including medals and finals appearances (Olympics and World Championships providing the highest endorsements)

3.       Ranking throughout competitive years (based on IAAF and Track and Field News rankings).

4.       Number of sub 10 clocking credited to the individual (legal conditions).

5.       Number of years at an elite or professional level (based on Track and Field News annual rankings).

Taking into account all the criteria provided has allowed me to accumulate a list of the most prolific, historical and successful sprinters the Caribbean has produced. To build excitement and suspense I have completed the list in reverse order, simply a countdown to the best. By the way, whether or not you agree with this or not, DON’T expect to see Yohan Blake or Asafa Powell on this list as they have both been disqualified and removed from this conversation for serving doping charges.

Hermes’ Top 10 Caribbean 100m Sprinters

10. Nestar Carter (Jamaica)

Carter is the sixth fastest man in history with his PR run in Rieti, Italy five years ago in 2010. A huge role player in the recent success of the Jamaican sprint relay, Carter was a late bloomer in the arena of athletics. Training under the tutelage of Stephen Francis as a member of the MVP club and studying in the island of Jamaica, this success story made my list for his consistency over the years and being on the historical world record 400m relay team.

Personal Record: 9.78s (August, 2010)

Individual Medals: 1 World Championship Bronze (2013)

Relay medals: 2 Gold OG, 2 Gold and 1 Silver WC

Sub 10s Races (Legal): 28

IAAF 100m PR Ranking: 6^th

TRACK and Field News Top 10 Annual Ranking Appearances: 6

9. Michael Frater (Jamaica)

A standout at TCU (Texas Christian University) and multi time NCAA Division 1 finalists in the 100m, Frater came closest to being NCAA champion his senior year losing to Tyson Gay by 0.008 seconds. A member of the multi champion 400m relay team, Frater is usually seen running the second or third leg. Longevity and consistency has earned Frater a spot in this Caribbean Top 10.

Personal Record: 9.88s (June, 2011)

Individual Medals: 1 World Championship Silver (2005)

Relay medals: 2 Gold OG, 2 Gold WC, 1 Gold and 1 Silver CWG

Sub 10s Races (Legal): 7

IAAF 100m PR Ranking: 22^nd  

TRACK and Field News Top 10 Annual Ranking Appearances: 7

8. Obadele Thompson (Barbados)

A former NCAA stand-out and All American while competing at the University of Texas, El Paso, Thompson was credited (prior to 2008) for having the fastest 100m run under any conditions sprinting 9.69s aided by an IAAF ruled illegal wind of 5.0m/s. Competing on national squads since his days as a junior athlete Thompson was the lone Barbadian sprinter of his era and helped put his country on the map.

Personal Record: 9.87s (September, 1998)

Individual Medals: 1 Olympic Bronze (2000) and 1 Commonwealth Games Bronze (1998)

Relay medals: None

Sub 10s Races (Legal): 3

IAAF 100m PR Ranking: 22^nd

TRACK and Field News Top 10 Annual Ranking Appearances: 3

7. Richard Thompson (Trinidad and Tobago)

The Trinbagonian sprinter shone for LSU in his senior year going undefeated indoors and outdoors in the Division 1 NCAA 2008 track and field season. He did not complete the double at NCAA being beaten to the line in the 200m by Walter Dix of FSU (USA). Thompson broke the National Record held by Ato Boldon in 2014 with a new personal record of 9.82s.   

Personal Record: 9.82s (June, 2014)

Individual Medals: 1 Olympic Games Silver (2008)

Relay medals: 2 Silver OG, 1 Silver WC and 1 Bronze CWG

Sub 10s Races (Legal): 9

IAAF 100m PR Ranking: 9^th

TRACK and Field News Top 10 Annual Ranking Appearances: 4

6. Kim Collins (St. Kitts and Nevis)

At the age of 39, Collins has proven to be the ageless sprinter of this era continuing to run sub 10s times when most have already retired. Collins has participated in many championship finals, always the finalist and only once the champion, he has proven that training smart directly results in competitive longevity.

Personal Record: 9.96s (July, 2014)

Individual Medals: 1 Gold (2003) and 3 Bronze World Championships Games (2001, 2005 and 2011) and 1 Commonwealth Games (2002)

Relay medals: 1 Bronze World Championship 

Sub 10s Races (Legal): 9

IAAF 100m PR Ranking: 65^th

TRACK and Field News Top 10 Annual Ranking Appearances: 4

Knowing the minds of the mortal man cannot keep focused for more than thirty minutes I divided the list into two distinct parts. Hopefully you find the time out of your so busy schedule to educate yourselves on the historical factors and influences of some of the fastest athletes on the planet and Olympic history. Keep up and return at a later date for the second portion to this two part series.  

Messenger God

Sport Specialists Messenger

Mount Olympus