Carter embraces underdog role

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Hamstring problems or not, Jamaican speedster Nesta Carter is determined to be among Jamaica's representatives in the 100m at the fast-approaching IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea. However, despite a strong season last year, as far as he is concerned, he will face the starter as an underdog.

Carter, who shared the fastest time in the world in 2010 (9.78) with American Tyson Gay and has gone 9.92 in his only serious 100m of the season, feels that he still has some catching up to do with his peers.

The 2007 Osaka World Championships (silver) and the 2008 Beijing Olympics (gold) 4x100m relay medallist, while confident of his chances of making the team, does not believe that his performances in 2010 makes him an automatic favourite for one of the three Daegu spots up for grab for the 100m at next weekend's trials - the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/ Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships.

"I don't feel any pressure; I opened with 9.92 seconds but (Steve) Mullings (9.80) is running fast already and (Yohan) Blake is also looking good plus Asafa (Powell) is there, so people will be looking to them first of all. Yes I know I ran 9.78 seconds last year but I still consider myself an underdog at this point," said Carter.

"I'm confident, its just a matter of going out there with the right focus because everybody is determined to make the team but you just have to remember the stuff that you need to and execute on the day," Carter added. "A lot of people will be expecting fast times and no worries, I'll be ready for the championships."

10-seconds barrier

Seven Jamaicans have already broken the 10-seconds barrier this year and while one of those, defending Olympic and World champion, Usain Bolt, is not expected to figure prominently given that he has an automatic qualification to Daegu, Carter is having no illusions about the level of competition that he is likely to face from the cadre of local sprinters who will be in the blocks next weekend.

"My main goal right now is to make the team to the World Champion-ships and then I'll take it from there," Carter said. "I'm looking forward to a very good competition knowing that a lot of persons are running nine seconds this year so it won't be a walkover for anyone. You have to be 100 per cent ready when you touch the track at alltimes.