Yohan Blake injured, out for six weeks

Kingston (Jamaica), April 18 (IANS/CMC): World 100 metres champion Yohan Blake has been sidelined for six weeks after medical reports raised concern about an injury sustained at an event in Jamaica last weekend.

Blake pulled up clutching his right hamstring in the 100m Saturday at the UTech Classic, while trailing eventual winner Kim Collins at the 50m mark, reports CMC.

Blake’s injury was originally thought to be a cramp but Timothy Spencer, a member of his management team, says it’s more serious.

“The essential point is, he did an MRI and his injury was more serious than first thought,” Spencer told the Jamaica Observer.

“It’s not a bad injury, it’s not just a cramp, but he won’t have any competition for approximately six weeks”.

Blake will miss at least three meets starting with the Jamaica Invitational set for May 4, the Doha Diamond League, the first meeting in the IAAF Diamond League calendar on May 10, and the Shanghai Diamond League on May 18.

Blake, 23, became the youngest World Championship 100m champion in 2011 at age 21.

He has a personal best of 9.69 seconds and 19.26 seconds for the 100m and 200m.

“He is resting and recovering. The point is, it’s not a serious injury and to ensure proper and maximum recovery, out of an abundance of caution, he is going to be out for a couple of meets,” Spencer stressed.