Francis targets successful 2011

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

THE YEAR 2010 has been a big one for national high jump record-holder Sheree Francis and the former Vere Technical High school student is focused on making it a major springboard.

As a new year beckons, Francis has set her sights on soaring higher over the horizontal bar as she targets a medal at the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, scheduled for Daegu, South Korea.

Having captured silver medals at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India and at the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico earlier this year, the 26 year old is now targeting greater consistency as she looks to take her podium exploits to Daegu next year.

Francis, a former national youth representative, who had been sidelined with an injury, announced her return earlier this year. She twice improved the national record; first with a 1.91m jump at the Youngster Goldsmith meet in February to erase Dianne Guthrie's 18-year mark of 1.90m, and then with a 1.93m leap at the second Jamaica All-Comers meet in May.

"It was a big thing for me, the Commonwealth Games in particular was my first real big meet and I walked away with a silver medal so I was very excited about that," said Francis in retrospection.

She noted that a lot of work is left to be done if she is to achieve her ambitions.

Francis, who returned to Jamaica a couple years ago and is now working out with Jeremy Delisser at Kingston College, says she has been working on her core in an effort to improve her jumping technique.

"We are focusing on my core because we recognised that was (my) weakness while I was competing last season. I believe that is a reason why I didn't do even better so we are looking to improve on that and get stronger," said Francis.

"I had a problem with my leg, I would be high over the bar but my legs would be hanging and right now we are hoping that these efforts will correct that," she added.

With this corrected and greater consistency, Francis is confident that she will be able to medal in Daegu, particularly if she manages to jump in the 1.95m region.

"My target for next season is to jump over 1.90m and above consistently," Francis said. "Once I'm over 1.95m you can never tell, it's really about what happens on the day. So once I'm in that area, I'm sure I can compete for a medal (at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics."

"I would have to work really hard to get a gold medal at the World Championships and I'm definitely putting in the work to do my very best. But I'm definitely looking to medal at the championships; first, second or third, I'm not looking beyond that at all and anything is possible," Francis added.

Francis, who also shared that she is looking at possible partnerships for a social programme that she is hoping to implement next year concerning drug abuse among students, will be competing a lot on the international indoor circuit in search of greater competition leading into the championships.

"I'll be competing overseas a lot going into the World Championships. I already have a few indoor meets lined up. I don't think I'll be competing a lot locally this season like I did for this past season, so I'll definitely get an opportunity to compete at a higher level with more challenge so my preparation will be a lot sharper," Francis said.