August podge of podge
HodgePodge by Charlie Hodge
This hodge podge version of HodgePodge starts with Kelowna’s Jerome Blake breaking the Canadian Track and Field Championship record in the 200-metre scamper.
As Castanet writer Kathy Michaels recently reported, Blake roared out of the runner starter blocks capturing a 19.95 second victory winning the men’s title on Sunday. The previous meet record was held by Brendon Rodney – Blake’s teammate on Canada’s Olympic champion 4×100 men’s relay team – who ran 19.96 in 2016. The time was also a personal best for Blake, who turns 30 next week.
Blake has been consistent and strong. This win follows his exceptional showing in the 100m earlier this season, where he clocked an astounding 9.97 seconds – the sixth-fastest time in Canadian history. With both performances, Blake now stands as the fastest Canadian in both the 100m and 200m this year, showcasing his dominance in sprinting across the board.
“This means everything to me,” said Blake after the race. “To run sub-20 and set a new championship record at home is a dream. I’ve been working for this moment all season — and it’s just the beginning.”
Blake won gold running the second leg of the men’s 4×100 metre relay team at the Paris Olympics and came home to Kelowna to share insight into how this city factored into his current success.
“I came to Kelowna in 2013 and I met Pat (coach Ledding) a couple of weeks later,” Blake said in September 2024.
“I was a 400 metre hurdler and long jumper and she told me I could really be a sprinter and I told her, ‘that’s not true.’”
He followed her guidance nevertheless, worked “tirelessly everyday for about three years” and his running career took off.
That said, he wouldn’t leave Kelowna behind.
“It’s one of those things where, as a professional athlete, you’re from a city where everyone knows your name but never really gets to see you.
“That was close to me to come back here and put myself in the community again.”
Blake left Kelowna when he was 21 to further his running career.
“I came to Kelowna in 2013 and I met Pat (coach Ledding) a couple of weeks later,” Blake said in September 2024. “I was a 400 metre hurdler and long jumper and she told me I could really be a sprinter and I told her, ‘that’s not true.’”
He followed her guidance nevertheless, worked ‘tirelessly everyday for about three years’ and his running career took off.
That said, he wouldn’t leave Kelowna behind.
“It’s one of those things where, as a professional athlete, you’re from a city where everyone knows your name!
“That was close to me, to come back here and put myself in the community again.”
Blake left Kelowna when he was 21 to further his running career.
***
Some HodgePodge readers may remember when I wrote a couple weeks back they would not have to read about hockey or the Maple Leafs (in particular) for a couple weeks?
How my heart was crushed not only by the falling Leafs team, but also by the individual Leafs? I promised not to whine or write about the pain.
By the reactions of Auston Mathews? Or the traitor antics of Mitch Marner?
Despite the temptation I stayed strong.
I bit my lip and did not crumble. I was not going to bite and write.
Then some young Leaf management got smart and because of them I was forced to break my promise. On Monday the Leafs signed my favourite rookie Nick Robertson. The talented skater received a paltry 1.825 million, one-year extension.
Signing such a ‘low on the roster list’ player may seem minor to many but it sends many signals to many. It tells Robertson he has a full steam ahead chance of cracking the Leaf lineup for a career. It tells other players looking for work on the Leafs that Robertson is definitely in the mix. It tells any Leafs out there in limbo it is time to make a decision before one is made for you.
Certainly my little Leaf world feels better with Robertson tucked in for the winter. With Nylander solidly tucked away for seven years and Mathew Knies signing a six-year contract less than a month ago, and best of best resigning John Tavares to a four-year extension the Leafs are suddenly a solid club again!
