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Stewart pleased with season opener

Published:Monday | May 9, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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The United States' Carmelita Jeter (left) wins the women's 100 metres, while Jamaica's Kerron Stewart (centre) and Sherone Simpson lean for the finish, at the JN Jamaica International Invitational, at the National Stadium on Saturday night.
Jamaica's Yohan Blake (centre) races alongside countryman Michael Frater (left) and American Darvis Patton, on his way to a wind-aided 9.80 seconds victory in the men's 100 metres at the JN Jamaica International Invitational, at the National Stadium on Saturday night. - photos by Ricardo Makyn
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 Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

After missing all of last season due to a hamstring injury, joint Olympic silver medallist, Kerron Stewart, opened her 2011 campaign with an 11.07 seconds clocking for fourth at the JN Jamaica International Invitational track and field meet, at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

Stewart, though naturally disappointed with not winning the event, which was captured by American Carmelita Jeter (10.86), ahead of Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly Ann Baptiste (10.94) and Jamaica's Sherone Simpson (11.07), was very pleased with her first outing of the season.

"I am pleased with my performance. Obviously, I wanted to win, but this is my first one and to run 11.07, that just speaks a lot," Stewart said.

"I only put on spikes in March, so I am happy with my time," she added.

The 27-year-old attributes her late start to the season to her propensity to pick up injuries.

"Injury just follows me, so my coach (Henry Rolle) said we are going to take it a lot slower this year and progress," Stewart disclosed.

"I have the strength, so I know speed will come, but I am surprised with my start here tonight," she noted.

Stewart is of the view that the worst has passed where her hamstring injury is concerned and she is now just looking to execute a full race in both the 100m and the 200m, which she believes, if she is able to do, will make her very hard to beat.

CONFIDENCE BOOST

"I tore my hamstring, it was a big tear and I tried to come back last year, but it didn't heal up properly, so I just had to take the season off," Stewart explained. "The thing about injuries, you have to get over that mental cycle first and then you get going.

"This will just boost my confidence because I now know that the injury is gone, so I am good. This is my first one, so the second one I know will be better, so time will come and speed will come," she added.

Stewart captured the silver medal in the 100m at the 2009 World Championships, but did not run in the 200m finals due to an ankle injury. However, she hopes to do the double this year, once injury permits.

"It all depends on injury. That's my plan (to run both the 100m and 200m), but I still have to sit down with coach Rolle and see what we are going to do, but for now I am going to double," said Stewart, who intends to make her season debut in the 200m at the Diamond League meet in Rome on May 26.