The trainer of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake has raised the possibility that the two Jamaican sprinters could race each other earlier than expected next year.
|Last Updated: Dec 08, 2011, 10:07 AM IST|Source: Bureau
Kingston: The trainer of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake has raised the possibility that the two Jamaican sprinters could race each other earlier than expected next year, providing an early preview of the blue-riband events at the London Olympics.
The pair are due to line up against each other at the Jamaican Olympic trials in June and at London in August but Glen Mills said they could square off before then, if their managers agreed and the money was right.
"That depends on the races that the managers have gotten confirmation for," Mills told Reuters.
"Track and field is not just a sport, it`s also a business...so it all depends on what meets are able to afford both runners to run in the same event."
Mills trains both Bolt and Blake, who are not only teammates in the Jamaican relay but also friends and rivals.
Bolt, 25, won the sprint double at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and holds the world record for both the 100 and 200 meters but the younger Blake has quickly emerged as his biggest threat.
Blake won the 100 at this year`s world championships in South Korea when Bolt was disqualified for a false start.
Bolt made amends by winning the 200 in the absence of Blake, who went on to set the second fastest time in history for the 200 at a meet in Belgium.
Blake`s agent Cubie Seegobin told reporters the 21-year-old would be happy to race Bolt over either distance in the lead-up to the Olympics.
"It doesn`t matter, if we`re in the 200 and whoever lines up in the 200 and we are comfortable with our negotiations and conditions, whoever lines up lines up, it doesn`t matter to us," Seegobin said.
"And the same thing in the 100, whoever lines up 100, that`s as long as we comfortable with out conditions, it doesn`t matter to us."
Bureau Report
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.