Blake stuns Coleman and Kerley in Brussels, says: There´s much more to come in the next years

Ackeem Blake stunned a 100m field of two former world champions, Christian Coleman (2019) and Fred Kerley (2022) as well as the usually reliable Akani Simbine at the Diamond League final in Brussels, Belgium on Friday evening and vow to produce more stunning wins starting from next year.

The Jamaican was running in his first Diamond League and came from behind to run past Coleman to clinch the Diamond Trophy, the $30,000 top prize money and a wild card to next year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

His winning time of 9.93 was the only sub-10 seconds performance of the cold night in Brussels as Coleman ran 10.00 and Kerley ran 10.01 to come second and third respectively.

A stunned Blake told reporters after the race he was not expecting the win.

‘For me it was a surprise to win here today. It was a very competitive field and it was also my first Diamond League final. This really means a lot to me. It was rather cold to sprint tonight, but still I ran a time pretty close to my personal best. I´ve been working very hard this season and I kept motivated. That´s why I am so strong at the end of this season,’ he said and declared he still has more surprises up his sleeve.

‘I know what I am capable of and I know that this is only the beginning. There´s much more to come in the next years,’ he said.

Coleman said he was satisfied with his race albeit he would have loved to win.

‘This race was all right. I am working on some new things this season. It would have been better to take the win but I am really satisfied with my race today. This summer I had a new coach, new environment, … and a lot of things are happening.

‘I feel like it has just been a transitional summer for me. I know what to do next year. I know what needs improvement. The line between me and where I want to be is so close, so I gotta keep working. And now, for off season I´m going to spend some time with my family and just clear my mind,’ said the 2019 World champion.