BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - MANY people around the globe were shocked in 2011 when team St. Kitts and Nevis upset the odds and won a bronze medal in the 4x100 metres at the IAAF World Championships held in South Korea.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Public Relations Officer of the St. Kitts-Nevis Amateur Athletic Association (SKNAAA), Evris Huggins spotlighted the prospects of St. Kitts-Nevis repeating that feat later this year when the Games are held in Moscow, Russia.
“We have been proving ourselves for the past two years where the relay is concerned. We continue to see some outstanding performances from our sprinters at the moment, and I think a number of them are on the verge of peeking. I think nationals will get the opportune time to see the actual relay squad.”
He added that the 100 metres at the nationals would help determine who the top four individuals are; who would become the favourites to make up the team.
“I also think that for the 100 metres the race is open to anybody, as of right now there is no clear winner. Each of the guys feels confident that they will put on a show for the St. Kitts-Nevis crowd.
“It is left to be seen and I think these are good problems we need to be having, where we have a host of qualifiers and allowing the performance at Nationals to determine who the final four is going to be on the national representative team for the 4x100 metres relay team.”
When asked if the he is confident that the team could once again finish in a medal position, Huggins exuberantly expressed his confidence.
“I am very confident! When you look at last year’s performance in particular and when you compare it to September 2011 when we won the bronze at the World Championships, who would have thought they would have reached so far and breaking a national record at that with one or two of the athletes injured. Who would have thought last year in London that they would again break the national record without Kim Collins and with an injured Brijesh Lawrence on the anchor leg.
“God has really blessed them. So far, they are actually healthy. And I am certain once they are in good health and once they build a similar team spirit, I think they can do even greater things this year. And the coaching coordinator is confident that our guys are ready to break the 38-second barrier and become one of the fewer countries to be in the sub-38 category.”
Huggins was also asked if he feels the team could fill the void left by Kim Collins, to which he said, “I’m certain they can, I’m certain they can.”
