MVP stars target best times

Ryon Jones, Sunday Gleaner Writer

If the preparation of the Maximising Velocity and Power (MVP) Track Club athletes goes according to plan then the country could witness the breaking of four national records this year.

Club president Bruce James has disclosed that all the athletes within MVP's ranks have committed to registering their best performances yet this year.

"That is what they are preparing to do. They are not just preparing to be fit or to be fast, they want to do better than they have done so far and that's their goal," James shared while speaking at the launch of the University of Technology (UTech) gala and ceremony to present the Chancellor's Medal to Asafa Powell, and Dennis Johnson Diaries Book launch. The launch was held on Wednesday at the Terra Nova All Suite Hotel.

four national record holders

MVP has four national record holders: Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce who holds the 100m record with a time of 10.73 seconds, Melaine Walker, holder of the 400m hurdles record with a time of 52.42 seconds, the 100m hurdles record holder with a time of 12.45 seconds is Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Sheree Francis, who is the high jump record holder with a mark of 1.91 metres.

The club, which has also produced a number of other Olympic and World Championships finalists and medalists, has identified four major goals for the athletics season.

"The four areas of focus are an indoor campaign for some of our athletes, starting on January 28 and will hopefully culminate in the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, between March 9 and 11," James shared with The Sunday Gleaner. "We also have a number of junior athletes who are going to be preparing for the World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain, between July 10 and 15. The IAAF Diamond League is the core of elite racing throughout the world, all our athletes would love an opportunity to participate there, and then of course the London Olympics is the big one in August," he added.

Powell and Nester Carter are the only two athletes confirmed to participate in the indoor season, with likely participation of others based on their progress in training. James also expects the club's younger athletes to "create quite a stir in at the World Junior Championships".

James explained the rationale behind former 100m world-record holder Powell revisiting the indoors scene.

"It is his (Powell) commitment to do his very best why this adjustment has been made," James revealed. "He wants to do the best he has ever done at an Olympic Games and run the fastest he has ever run in his life," he added.

A large number of MVP athletes will open their season on January 28 at the Grace Jackson meet, where the club's sprinters are expected to run the 400 metres while some of the 400 metres runners will tackle the 800 metres.