Comm Games debutant Trae Williams enjoying getting trash talk from idol Yohan Blake

GAMES debutant Trae Williams says he loved being trash-talked by a former world champion when Jamaica’s Yohan Blake told him publicly last week to not be “scared’’.

GAMES debutant Trae Williams says he loved being trash-talked by a former world champion when Jamaica’s Yohan Blake told him publicly last week to not be “scared’’.

Williams, 20, is unlikely to race against Blake and other Commonwealth Games sprint stars at the Queensland International Track Classic Wednesday night because he likes not to race close to a championships.

He can submit a late entry for the meet at Brisbane’s State Athletics Facilty, but it is not expected that he will come across Blake until the Games 100m event at Carrara Stadium.

The Logan sprinter said he had seen comments by Blake, Jamaica’s 2011 world champion in the 100m, upon his arrival in Queensland last Sunday.

Trae Williams will use it as ammunition. (Nigel Hallett)

Blake said he looked forward to Williams, who clocked the fastest 100m by an Australian in 11 years with his 10.10 sec to defend his national title last month, racing in a lane “right beside me — don’t be scared’’.

“It was a bit of a call out from Yohan Blake, which was unexpected, a bit of trash talk, banter, it’s all good,’’ Williams said.

“It was good when one of your idols becomes a rival. I am looking forward to running against him, he’s a world-class athlete.

“Hopefully I get a lane beside him, push with him and hopefully beat him.’’

Jamaica’s Yohan Blake has upped the rivalry. (Mark Cranitch.)

Blake, fellow Jamaican Julian Forte and English pair Adam Gemili, the 2014 Commonwealth silver medallist, and Harry Akines-Aryeety are on a 100m entry list also including Australians Rohan Browning and Josh Clarke for tomorrow night’s meet.

“I don’t usually race this close to a big comp,’’ Williams said.

Queensland Athletics CEO David Gynther said there had been more entries for the meet than there were places for competitors in many events.

Williams bypassed the state titles earlier this season to prioritise training for the national championships at Carrara Stadium, the site of the Gold Coast Games athletics next month.

Sally Pearson, normally an indelible presence at the bigger meets in Queensland, has not entered the 100m hurdles at the SAF, the last meet before the Games.

The dual Games gold medallist has not competed since her world indoors campaign in England in the first week of March, but according to her social media accounts has been training in recent days.

Forte, 25, has a 100m personal best of 9.91, run in Berlin last year.

Williams and his father and coach Daniel have been inclined to stick to a formula of relatively few races which has served them well in his two-season reign as the Australian 100m champion.

Originally published as Comm Games debutant Trae Williams enjoying getting trash talk from idol Yohan Blake