Tiffany James looking ahead
TIFFANY JAMES, last year’s World Under-20 400m champion, was an interested spectator at the JAAA Carifta Trials on Saturday, James, a six-time Carifta Games gold medal winner, isn’t looking back on her stellar junior career. She has her mind focused on competing with the ladies she respectfully calls ‘the big girls’.
With junior meets reserved for those that are under 20 during the entire year of competition, James is looking ahead. “Well, I know a lot of people are expecting much from me so it’s just for me to stay focused, keep calm, put in some more work and get out there, because, you know; this time with the big girls, it’s going to be much harder but I’m confident.”
Speaking with the assurance that perhaps comes from being a World champion, the Mico University college student athlete professed, “I’m willing to work and I’m ready.”
She isn’t dismayed by the recent success Jamaica has enjoyed in the 400 and the 4x400m relay. Stephenie Ann McPherson led a Jamaican 1-23 at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, with Shericka Jackson taking bronze medals at both the 2015 World Championships and at the Olympics last year. The 4x400 team, including McPherson and Jackson, is the reigning World champion. In fact, James said, “It excites me to see that Jamaica is improving in the one-lap events.”
Coached by 1983 World champion Bert Cameron, James is working to do well in her first senior season. “I have a lot of goals for 2017”, she informed. “A few are to run a personal best, of course, to be on that World Championship team, the World University Games”, she enumerated as she watched the trials.
FIRST TIME
James set a personal best of 51.32 seconds to win her World title last year.
She was pleased with her Gibson McCook Relays performance. Appraised that her 4x4x00 relay leg was timed in 52.8 seconds, she responded, “It’s the first time actually doing the one lap since the start of the season, so it felt great.”
“I’ll be running the 400 metres at the G.C. Foster Classic,” she revealed, “so let’s see how it goes.”
The Mico University college did very well at the recent Gibson McCook Relays, especially in the 4x400 metres. James explained why, saying, “Well, I guess everybody is seeing and wants to come and everybody is willing to work.
“Nobody knows Mico as a team that can win Intercol, or have somebody to win,” she continued, “but I don’t know if it is me, but I believe I started it and everybody is motivated and want to train, and that’s why we’re getting the results.”
The Inter-collegiate Championships are set for April 7 and 8 at the National Stadium.
I’m willing to work and I’m ready.