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Chasing Bolt


As a boy growing up in Barbados it would have been impossible to avoid following the success' of Usain Bolt. The Jamaican sprinter has captured the world's imagination for the last nine years and is arguably the greatest sprinter of all time. Bolt announced that the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London would be his final competition, so everyone in the track & field world is waiting to see if someone can beat Bolt in his last race.

Among those vying for Bolt's crown is Barbados' own Mario Burke. The rising junior for the Cougars has been getting primed for international competition these last two years. After missing out on the Olympics last summer, Burke is ready for his first senior level international meet.

Burke punched his ticket to London by becoming the Barbados 100m national champion with a time of 10.12s.

This after a season where Burke not only found success in the relay, helping the Cougars win the NCAA 4x100m national championship, but individually as well. Burke qualified for both the NCAA National Championships in the sprints, 60m for Indoor and 100m for Outdoor, and won the American Athletic Conference Indoor 60m championship.

Burke also helped the Barbados 4x100m relay team qualify for Worlds at the IAAF World Relays. There Burke ran the first leg en route to Barbados' second place finish. Former teammate LeShon Collins will also be running for the USA relay team, and rising sophomore Brianne Bethel will be running for the Bahamas relay team.

It's been only two years since Burke won the double at the CARIFTA Games, making the world take notice. But now he has the chance to run against seasoned veterans like Justin Gatlin, Andre De Grasse, and hopefully Bolt.

Burke's campaign starts on Friday at 7pm London time. If all goes well the boy from Bridgetown will have a lot of momentum when he comes back to Houston.

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