McLaughin strides to PB in Sweden

World Championships 200m finalist, Anneisha McLaughlin, posted her fastest time over the distance this season, with a 22.63 clocking at the Norrvidden Sundsvall Wind Sprint meet in Sweden yesterday.

McLaughlin's MVP Track Club team-mate, Stephanie McPherson, was second in 23.14, with Russian Ekaterina Vukolova third in 23.25.

The former Holmwood Technical star athlete was excited about her performance, after lowering her previous season's best, which stood at 22.95.

"I feel very happy because I have put in some serious work during the two-week break and it has paid off," McLaughlin told The Gleaner from Sweden yesterday.

Main problem

"Well basically, the main problem was that I was running with too much back lift and coach (Stephen Francis) said if I don't correct that I won't be able to improve my times," said McLaughlin. "So over the past two weeks I have been working on it and actually put out an effort to do it today and it worked; as you can see I got a season's best as a result of that."

The sprinter, who is still a student at the University of Technology, pointed out that she is not spending too much energy worrying over her times this year, but is more focused on getting her technique right as she looks ahead to repeating and bettering her showing at the IAAF World Championships in athletics next year.

"I don't really have my mind set on times, I just want to run my races technically correct and as long as I do that my times are supposed to improve," McLaughlin stated.

Several other Jamaicans also participated in the meet, with Kimmari Roach upstaging Winston Barnes in the 100m, clocking 10.21 to win. Barnes logged 10.37.

Carrie Russell posted a meet record 11.23 to win the women's 100m; Darrian Bent, 20.53, won the men's 200m; while 400m specialist, Nicholas Maitland, clocked 20.95 to finish fourth.

- André Lowe