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Blissful Andrea believes 2011 will be breakout year

Published:Wednesday | April 27, 2011 | 12:00 AM
From left: New Zealand's Andrea Miller, Australia's Sally Pearson and Jamaica's Andrea Bliss compete in the women's 100m hurdles final during the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India, in October 2010. Bliss, who ended fourth in the event, is targeting a place on Jamaica's team to the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, later this year. - AP

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

It has been a rather quiet start to the season so far for 2010 Commonwealth Games 100 metres hurdles finalist, Andrea Bliss.

However, the former University of Florida student is well aware and believes that the time is ripe for her to start making some positive moves.

Bliss barely missed out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year and for quite some time, she has barely looked like repeating the 12.83-form she had almost six years ago.

However, with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Athletics scheduled for Daegu, South Korea, on the horizon and before that, the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA)/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships, Bliss is looking to really make her mark this season.

The 30-year-old says she has been training well at her base in Florida and is looking to iron out some kinks in time for the big assignments. The former St Jago athlete has also made it her point of duty to improve her 12.83 personal best before the end of the year.

"Things have been really great in training, but when it comes to my race I have a problem with my eighth hurdle. I fix one thing and then it's another, but at the same time I am being very patient and waiting on what the Lord has in store for me," said Bliss.

targeting speed improvement

"Technically, there were a few things that have been changed over the years, but my main one is speed. I have to improve on that and learn how to react faster over the hurdles and off the hurdles. I think that has been my biggest challenge this year so far, and that's the main reason I am having trouble with the hurdles," Bliss added.

Based on her training, Bliss is confident she can run a lifetime best this season, as she seeks to enhance her chances of earning a spot on Jamaica's team for the World Championships.

"It's been a few years now since I ran my personal best, but I really believe and think that this year is the year I should surpass that," Bliss stated.

"I am very close to running those times again, once I have my races together. I am personally right now in 12.8 shape and the time I am looking to run this year is 12.7 or better."

She added: "It is a super big season and my goals are to first make the team (to the IAAF World Championships in Athletics) and to make the team I have to be ready and then from there I just have to look forward to what's ahead after making the team."

In terms of making the team, she summed up her chances thus: "I am always confident when it comes on to me. It's going to be a very big challenge yes, but the better person on the day will be on the team."