Baptiste: I can’t focus solely on Carmelita

Although she claimed her sixth national title in the women’s 100 metres sprint, Kelly-Ann Baptiste admitted she was not completely satisfied with her overall performance at the NAAA Sagicor/NGC National Open Track and Field Championship on Saturday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The reigning national sprint queen was the clear-cut winner of the event, speeding to a 10.98 golden finish. She sped ahead of Zenith club-mate Semoy Hackett (11.14), Kai Selvon (Air Bon Sonics—11.24), and Michelle Lee Ahye (Unattached—11.29) in fourth. The 25-year-old women’s national record holder told the T&T Guardian that she was not completely satisfied with her final time as she reflected on her performances for the day. “I’m not really satisfied (with the time) but, I’ll take it. (I) could have done better. (I have been) a bit up and down and inconsistent but, those things happen. 

 

She said, “I didn’t do as good as I would have liked in some races but, I know I can do better because I know what kind of athlete I am.I am not going to be discouraged by any of that. I’m just going to keep working and keep believing in myself.” When asked what she thought were the determining factors for her preparations leading up to the Olympics, Baptiste said: “I think competition is the biggest thing because you have to try and execute all that you have been learning. So I’m just going to be using competitions as my markers to see where I am at, and where I am going.” Questioned if she has any apprehension on facing reigning World champion, Carmelita Jeter (USA), the 2011 World Championships bronze medallist said she can’t place all her focus on her arch rival. 

 

Baptiste got her 2012 season off in sensational style, clocking her best season opener of 10.86 seconds, in trailing a mere 0.05 seconds behind Jeter (10.81), who set a meet record and a world leading time in winning the women’s 100m at the Jamaica International Invitational in May.  “I can’t focus on Carmelita Jeter when there might be someone else behind her who could do much better. So I would never single out one individual athlete, I can’t focus on her solely. “All the “A” people in the final will be my main competitors. I think anything can happen (in the final) it’s very unpredictable. I’ll be looking to put out some of my best times,” Baptiste said.