media_artricles :: 2016

An Olympic Diary - St Fort raring to go

Two years ago, the name Khalifa St Fort would not ring a bell among sports fans here in Trinidad and Tobago. Now, she's the country's hottest young track and field talent, and is fine-tuning preparations for her Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next month.

St Fort is just 18, but has already made her mark globally, capturing girls' 100 metres silver at the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia. Her next international assignment is at the July 19-24 IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, where the Florida-based athlete will attempt the women's sprint double. She is also part of a formidable 4x100m squad that also includes her training partner Sarah Wollaston, Jenea Spinks, Akeera Esdelle and hurdler Jeminise Parris.

Following the Poland assignment, St Fort will switch her focus to the Rio Games.

In today's "Olympic Diary", St Fort reflects on her NAAA NGC/Sagicor National Open Track and Field Championship experience, and looks ahead to Bydgoszcz and Rio.

I left the Senior Championships in Trinidad and Tobago with a fourth place finish in the women's 100 metres final and a new personal best of 11.16 seconds. This earned me a spot on the 2016 Rio Olympic team, as well as the national junior record formerly held by Kelly-Ann Baptiste.

When I stepped to the line for the final I felt various emotions. To my left and right was a great field of competitive women. They all wanted a spot on the Olympic team. I knew it would take my best race in order to make the top four.

When I crossed the finish line and realised I got fourth I was overwhelmed with emotion. I cried tears of joy. All those years of dreaming of the Olympics, and that day I made my dream a reality.

The following day, I ran the 200 semi-final and I got third with a season's best. After the semi-final I felt pain in my hamstring and Coach Ato (Boldon) pulled me from the final.

After trials, my teammate Sarah (Wollaston) and I went to the Michael Johnson Performance Centre in Dallas, Texas for treatment. I received great treatment there and it gave me the reassurance I needed for the hard training week ahead of me in Eugene, Oregon.

Sarah and I joined Coach Ato in Eugene for the U.S. Olympic Trials. We trained on mornings and went to watch the track meet in the evenings. The week consisted of every hard sprint workout I knew, but I was more than prepared for it.

As I look ahead to the 2016 World Junior Championships in Poland, I am confident that I will break 11 in the 100 and break 23 in the 200. I am also part of a strong relay team that has a great chance of medalling. I am confident in our abilities, baton passes, and chemistry. I am confident that we will win a medal for Trinidad and Tobago.

With my hamstring pain gone and my confidence sky high, I believe that I will make Trinidad and Tobago proud at the 2016 World Junior Championships and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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