‘Slow Cooking’: Jerome Blake Enjoying His Journey to Becoming Canada’s Fastest Man

Ottawa – Jerome Blake, the sprinter from Kelowna, B.C., is now officially Canada’s fastest man — and his path to the top has been anything but rushed.

On Sunday, at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa, Blake secured his first national title and set a new meet record in the 200 metres with a blazing time of 19.95 seconds, his first time dipping under the 20-second mark. Just weeks earlier, he also broke the 10-second barrier in the 100 metres for the first time, clocking 9.97 seconds in Germany.

But the 29-year-old — who turns 30 on August 18 — says his rise has been more of a “slow cooking” process.

“I’ve only been training seriously as a pro for five or six years,” said Blake. “Before that, I was doing club track, training just a couple times a week while also working on film sets or doing modelling.”

His career took a turning point in 2020, when he moved to Florida to train under legendary coach Dennis Mitchell. That transition introduced him to a new level of intensity and consistency.

“I’m in a place now where I’m happy. I understand the kind of work I need to do to get where I want. It’s been slow cooking — but it’s been good,” Blake said.

Blake’s achievements come after years of contributing to Canada’s 4×100m relay success, including Olympic gold in 2024 and world championship gold in 2022, alongside Andre De Grasse, Aaron Brown, and Brendon Rodney.

This season, Blake has found a new rhythm, thanks to a fresh training environment and a renewed focus on personal growth. Now working under coaches Ryan Freckleton, Ryan Thomas, and Rana Reider, he’s rediscovering sprinting through refined techniques and increased self-awareness.

“You need an environment where you feel wanted and understood,” Blake said. “Switching coaches changes your muscle memory, your form — everything. It took time for that to click.”

Though disqualified from the 100m semifinals at nationals due to a false start, Blake still owns a notable victory over 2023 world bronze medallist Letsile Tebogo this season.

Looking ahead to the World Championships in Tokyo this September, Blake has qualified for both the 100m and 200m events. His goal is simple: make the finals and build from there.

“It’s just one race at a time. I’m not going to let the fact I’ve run nine seconds and 19 seconds make me feel like I must win. That’s not how sports work,” he said.

Still, Blake believes he hasn’t yet hit his peak.

“After the race, rewatching the tape, I saw how many mistakes I made. There’s still more room to go faster.”

Source: The Canadian Press | Abdulhamid Ibrahim | Published August 5, 2025