A SUPER TRACK STAR : Akeem Bloomfield, the 17-year-old Kingston College phenomenon : 'I knew I'd do something great' Bloomfield not surprised by record sub-45 run at Champs

 BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaiacaobserver.com  Sunday, March 29, 2015    

His story is similar in some ways to that of Usain Bolt's. Some say his long legs remind them of the legendary Arthur Wint. Most believe he is destined for greatness. He is Akeem Bloomfield -- the rising star of the 400m.

Akeem Bloomfield, the 17-year-old Kingston College
phenomenon

Bloomfield, the 17-year-old Kingston College phenomenon, created history by becoming the first Jamaican schoolboy to run the 400m under 45 seconds with an astonishing 44.93 seconds to win the event in Class One at the GraceKennedy/ISSA Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships at the National Stadium yesterday.

Just last year, the promising Javon Francis ran what was then an unbelievable 45.00 seconds to break Usain Bolt's 400m record, just failing to dip below the 45-second mark. In fact, after Francis' run, the clock flashed 44.98 before settling at 45.00 seconds.

A year on, Bloomfield, standing at 6ft 5in,crossed the line and the clock flashed 45.03 seconds before settling at 44.93 in an eye-popping, jaw-dropping display of speed and stamina.

In 2008, Bolt was working on his speed for the 200m and tested himself over 100m and ran 9.72 seconds in his third 100m event in new York and the rest is history. Five years on, Bloomfield, who runs 100m and 200m, last year at Champs was working on his stamina, and in his first 400m race he clocked an amazing 45.41 seconds at the Carifta Trials a few weeks ago.

"My 200 was good and I was just doing some strength work, but I was not sure what my coach had in store for me. I just knew I would do something great," said Bloomfield, who has 10 CXC subjects.

Then, in only his third 400m run, Bloomfield broke the Class One record of 45.00 seconds and Davian Clarke's National Junior record of 45.21 seconds and became the 11th fastest junior of all time in the world.

Kingston College’s Akeem Bloomfield (right) in his record-breaking
 run in the Class One 400m at the GraceKennedy/ISSA Boys’
and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium
 yesterday. St Jago High’s Nathan Allen (left) was second.
(PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS)

Bloomfield, who was drawn in lane five, was sandwiched between main rivals from St Jago High Martin Manley, the 2013 World Youth 400m champion, and Nathan Allen, while his teammate Twayne Crooks was in lane seven with the Class Two record holder Devaughn Baker of Jamaica College in lane eight.

Bloomfield, who is a sub-21 200m runner with 10.3 under his belt for the 100m, went out fast, swept past Allen and cleared the entire field at the 200m mark, and when Allen came with a renewed challenge in the straight, Bloomfield found an extra gear for a victory that will be talked about for years to come. more