Olympic dream on hold!
That is according to Head Coach Willis Todman, who felt given more time, the quartet of Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Chantel Malone, Karene King and Ashley Kelly and reserve Sanya Penn, would have been able to run a faster time and finish higher than seventh.
Their time of 44.87 was faster than the previous run in Miami two weeks ago when they ran 45 flat, but still a long way from the probable London 2012 Olympic required qualifying mark of around 43.50 to 43.75.
Whilst outwardly it appears strange that the team would have been given so little training together in such an important year, extenuating circumstances of College schedules and injuries have to be taken into account.
However, as Todman explained, “The BVI has arrived on the scene and can compete internationally” adding, “There are some things that can be fixed and they can be one of the better teams in the Caribbean and by becoming one of the better teams in the Caribbean, they’ll become one of the better teams in the world.”
He went onto say that one of the other countries coaches had said that it would be good for the BVI to get its act together because, “Come to the Olympic Games, of those 16 teams, we’d like to see eight Caribbean countries there and with our horse power, we stand a good chance.”
Other countries have managed to overcome similar obstacles to those faced by the BVIAA in getting the team together for training and competition and as Todman noted. “As a team and as a group, we have to get together whether it’s for two weeks at a time, that’s the only way we are going to be able to do it. Over the last couple of years, St. Kitts has done it and everyone knows Bahamas and the Golden Girls, so I think the only thing we are lacking right now is the togetherness. If we work together we will accomplish a lot more than we are doing right now. Individually, they can matchup with anybody.”
The most experienced of the team, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, whose season has been hampered by niggly injury issues was philosophical about the run. “The relay went fine but I think we have some issues in reference to hand offs,” she said. “This week I felt much better considering that I’m coming off the injury, my rhythm was bad but today I felt I did a good job.”
Harrigan-Scott also stated that, “Malone ran good, had some killer people on her leg but held her own and everybody else did a good job. But, we have to make sure we get the baton around the track more effectively that way we can take time off. The more efficient we get, the faster we’ll get and that should make some major improvements in our time.”
Karene King, who along with Malone and Kelly has a great chance of individual qualification for the London Games said the experience was great and she was happy to have another opportunity to run. “A little shaky with the handoffs but with a little more practice with each other we’ll be set to go,” she said. “We had nothing to lose but everything to gain and I think everybody did their part. With more baton practice, we’re well on our way.”
Either way, with time running out on the attempt to achieve an Olympics berth, it appears the new goal for the team is the 2013 World Championships, but in the meantime the next crop of relay runners should surely start to be groomed for competition. I t would be a shame to find ourselves in the same last minute position in four years time with the likes of Nelda Huggins and Taylor Hill et al not given ample opportunity to hone their skills in a competitive environment.
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