Gary finally plays the right ‘Card’ - Sprinter smashes national junior record, credits support at MVP track club
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Jamaica’s teenage sprint sensation Gary Card shattered the national junior record in the men’s 100m when he blazed to a new mark of 9.93 seconds in the final of the men’s 100m at the National Senior Championships on Friday at the National Stadium.
Card become the second Jamaican teenager to dip below the 10-second barrier and erased Bouwahjgie Nkrumie’s previous record of 9.99.
He finished second behind the reigning world and national champion Oblique Seville who took the title in 9.82, and just ahead of Ackeem Blake, third in 9.94.
Card rose to prominence at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships where he represented Wolmer’s Boys’ School.
Many expected Card to have gone sub-10 during his high school career, but injuries prevented the sprinter from achieving the mark.
Now a year on from his final race at Champs, Card has finally achieved the feat and said he is happy to have finally broken the barrier.
“It's a long time coming but I don't rush the process. God will take care of it,” Card said after the race.
“It happens when it's supposed to happen and I'm just happy that tonight was the night,” he continued.
Card said his return from injury was a hard battle, but one he fought with the support of his teammates and coaches at MVP track club.
He explained the club provided a very supportive environment with teammates who always believed he was capable of going below 10 seconds.
“It’s very hard, especially if the environment around you isn't really as supportive to your mentality as it should be. Thankfully mine is,” Card explained.
“My physio[therapist], coach, teammates, everybody has been supporting me through it, so it paid off. I got better and thanks to them I'm in the best shape I can be [in] right now,” he continued.
“It's a very supportive environment. Everybody there knows what I could have done today and they wanted to see me do the best and as you can see, they were very happy that I did the best, so I'm grateful to all of them.”
FASTER TIMES
Card said this is just the beginning and he is hopeful of remaining consistently below the 10-second barrier while also improving on his times.
But while he eyes faster times, Card said the main objective will be to remain healthy throughout and continue to grow as a professional.
His career is now under the watchful eye of veteran coach Stephen Francis, who Card described as ‘one of the best coaches in the world’.
“Just faster times, being healthy. That's the most important thing in this sport. Healthy and doing the best you can. Just wish me luck and I'm sure I'll be alright,” he said.
“[He is] one of the best coaches in the world. He knows how to make somebody run fast and he's taking time to focus on me, make sure I do the best I can and I'm grateful to him for it.”