Starting the 2009 season
I’m happy to have started my 2009 season.
Even though I hate to open up with a loss, I’m more concerned with finishing strong than starting with a bang! Jamaica was a good experience. I competed in the 400 and placed second to Novlene Williams. She ran a great race and I look forward to racing her again.
Lots of my family and close friends were there and catching up with everyone was special.
I still get mixed reception from the fans, but I totally understand. Some people still wish I ran for Jamaica,where I was born and spent some of my childhood,and that’s why I make it a point to go back and run each year. I love returning to the place it all started for me. Every time I step on the track I can remember competing as a seven year old and it inspires me to just have fun!
I also got a chance to meet some of the kids in my Fast Track Program. I was scheduled to go down and visit with them earlier in the year but due to a bad flare up I had to cancel my trip. The kids were disappointed but so was I. It was nice to see the majority of them in the stands cheering me on and I’m so happy that they are reaping the benefits of the program that is geared towards increasing literacy in children.
After Jamaica I changed speeds and competed in the 200m at the Adidas meet in Carson, California. I finished second in 23.0 to Allyson who ran an excellent race. Overall I was pleased with the run. In Coach Hart’s program we don’t do a lot of sprinting so I always feel as if I’m getting my speed work as I race. However I believe that I am more consistent in the 400 when I get in a couple 200m races early in the year. I also enjoyed watching, or hearing, all the results from the meet! I was one of the last races so I didn’t get to see all of them live.
With the caliber of athletes competing, if in Europe, we would have had at least 30,000 people watching. Unfortunately it’s so hard to get that kind of crowd in most places in the U.S. It was a decent turn out but with so many great American athletes competing, I wish there were more people on hand to watch. LaShawn Merritt looked great in the 200, Jeremy Wariner in the 400m, Carmelita Jeter in the 100m, Dawn Harper consistent in the 100mH, and many other great races!
After the meet I did a signing with Nutrilite and track fans are the best! As people walked up, some not seeing the line, I thought they would just continue on but they didn’t! They patiently waited in line to interact with me and get an autograph. It was really nice and I felt as if everyone had a good time and enjoyed the meet!
The next big meet in the US will be the Reebok meet in New York, I’m not 100% sure if I’ll be competing there or not but I’m sure there will be some great performances there!
Stay tuned….
