Gordon eyes London 2012

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

It's early days yet, but one thing is for sure, like most senior and aspiring junior national athletes, new Junior Pan American Championships 400 metres champion, Chrisann Gordon, is looking forward to next year's Supreme Ventures National Track and Field Championships, which will also act as a qualifier for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The Holmwood Technical High student, who along with other members of the Junior Pan American team returned home yesterday, says she eyeing the championships with a view of picking up one of the three automatic individual spots for the women's 400m heading into the London Games.

"My season is over now, but the plan is to get some rest and resume training towards the end of year, so that I can be in good shape heading into next year's national trials where I hope to make the Olympic team," said Gordon who, running out of lane eight, claimed the Junior Pan American title in Florida, United States, last weekend.

She won in a time of 52.62 seconds, a full second off her personal best of 51.62, and in the process upstaged favourites, the United States' Diamond Dixon and Phyliss Francis, who finished third and fourth after clocking 53.10 and 53.61, respectively.

Redemption

It was redemption for Gordon, who, two weeks earlier, finished a disappointing seventh at the World Youth Championships in Lille, South Korea, where she stopped the clock at 53.13.

"Finishing the way I did at the World Youth's was disappointing, but I knew I had it in me to do better and that is what I did," said Gordon.

"It was difficult running from lane eight, but rather than let it get to me, I decided to use it as a motivation. Thanks to God, it paid off."

Meanwhile, assistant coach of the Pan American Junior team, Hamlin Pagon, said the coaching staff was generally pleased with the efforts of the team during the event.

Jamaica finished with ten medals, three gold, five silver, and two bronze with the gold going to Gordon, and Calabar High pair of discus thrower Traves Smikle and shot putter Ashinia Miller.

Smikle won with a new Pan American Junior record throw of 66.51 metres and Miller, a national junior record of 19.97.

The United States topped the medal standings with 59 medals - 26 gold, 21 silver, and 12 bronze.

The Bahamas with 10 medals - three gold, two silver, and five bronze finished third.

"We are, for the most part, happy with the efforts of the team; they tried their best," said Pagon.

"There were personal records and there were meet records. The good thing, also, is that a number of these athletes can represent us again next year, which could result in even better performances," Pagon added.