World champ Foster-Hylton gears up for Daegu defence

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

VETERAN hurdler Brigitte Foster-Hylton will be using the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Associa-tion/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championship to help prepare for the Daegu World Championships. The defending world champion in the women's 100 metres hurdles has a bye in the event but wants to compete locally for her loyal fans.

"This is our National Championship and it is not only a trial for the World Championships, I want to use the meet to help with my preparation," said the three-time World Championships medallist, following bronze in Helsinki, silver in Paris and gold in Berlin two years ago.

Last year was not a happy one for Foster-Hylton as her season was cut short at the Utech Classics, bringing an end to her season. At 36 years of age, she is one of three veterans who look set to represent the country once again at the highest level, as Delloreen Ennis-London, the Berlin bronze medallist and Vonette Dixon are on target to compete once again for Jamaica at the Daegu championships.

Very proud

"It is good that we three will be competing for Jamaica once again and I have no doubt that upcoming hurdlers like Latoya Greaves and Natasha Ruddock and others in the making will make an impact soon and I am proud that we could have four athletes representing the country in the event at the World Championships," she said when asked about the progress of the upcoming hurdlers.

With a season best of 12.99 seconds done in Cleremont, Florida, several weeks ago, Foster-Hylton is not worried about her progress this season.

"It is early days but hopefully I can do much better at our trials as my preparation suffered a bit at the New York meet, where I made a little mistake at the start of the race but I am working to correct that," she continued.

Foster-Hylton also stated that she feels very relaxed going into the National Championships.

"I am very happy that there is no pressure on me and the stress that occurs a week before the National Championships thinking about performing to make the team and this is a wonderful feeling," she continued.

Asked about how she felt carrying the tag as world champion for the past two years, her reply was: " It has been a lot of stress knowing that everyone will be 'coming for my head' going into the next World Championships but I try not to let that control my mental preparation."

Despite a host of hurdlers, especially several from the United States posting some fast times this season, Foster-Hylton is not worried about this.

"I am not worried about anybody as my event is a very challenging one and anything can happen on the day. All I have to do is to stay focus and execute on the day."