Williams eyes Jamaica scalp
Published:Friday | May 1, 2015 | 9:58 PMAndre Lowe
Special Project Editor - Sports
NASSAU, Bahamas:
We sometimes forget that he isn't a Jamaican, but although former Munro College standout Delano Williams will be wrapped in the colours of Great Britain at this weekend's IAAF World Relays in The Bahamas, but he'll certainly be keeping an eye on the Jamaicans.
Williams, the Class One double sprint champion at the 2013 Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, will be competing in the 4x400m in Nassau, in an event that he and many others believe will be the race of the competition.
"Its gonna be a good experience, its my first World Relays, I missed it last year and I really wanted to go, so this is going to be one of my objectives this year and I made it so I'm really excited to compete," Williams told The Gleaner.
Williams, who has a 400m personal best mark of 46.20, said he is looking to make Great Britain's mile relay team. While he is no slouch around the track, the 21 year-old is certainly more highly regarded in the 100m - 200m range with personal best times of 10.28 and 20.27 seconds respectively. He, however, explained that his studying commitments at the University of the West Indies prevents him from attending mandatory relay camps for the 4x100m team.
"I just do the 400m for strength work, but I run some good times but I am also looking to make the Great Britain 4x400m team to Beijing because I believe I can make a good contribution to that team," Williams said. "Making Great Britain's 4x100m team is going to be a challenge because they have a lot of relay camps around the world for the 4x100m and I go to school so I am not able to attend those and its mandatory that you go to those camps. The 4x400m is a little different because it is a visual change (baton exchange). When I finish school I will think about that."
This weekend, Williams will be only thinking about helping his Great Britain team to a podium spot in the 4x400m but he is all too aware that its going to be a tough ask with the home team, The Bahamas, the United States, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica all expected to figure prominently.
"It's going to be very competitive. This will be my first time in a competitive world class 4x400m field. I know the Americans will be very good, the Jamaicans will come very good as well and Great Britain, we have a very good team but its all about fun and it will be a great race. I'm really looking forward to this," said Williams, who has been splitting 44 seconds times in training.