Fresh start
Christopher Taylor focusing on recovery ahead of move to US
YOUNG JAMAICA sprinter Christopher Taylor is now focusing on his recovery, ahead of a move to Florida, where he will be coached by well-known trainer Rana Reider, this according to Dalton Myers, a director at JAD Professional Management, which is now managing the affairs of the Calabar High School standout.
Myers told The Gleaner that Taylor, 19, is looking forward to the move, while underlining that the focus is on regaining full fitness.
As a result, Taylor, who clearly competed injured at the ISSA/ GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships in March will not be competing at the upcoming National Senior Championships.
The latest development also spells an end to his long association with his high school coach Michael Clarke.
“He (Taylor) hopes to make this move as soon as possible, but he is still in school because school isn’t out as yet,” said Myers. “He is also injured, he wants to get some medical assistance and to so some recuperating.”
“For now things like national trials is not an option, is just to get fit and further his education and get some training in,” Myers said.
However, Myers declined to state type of injury that Taylor has been struggling with this season, but it is understood the versatile athlete has not fully recovered from hamstring injury, which caused his struggles at Champs earlier this year.
Myers added that Taylor, who won the 400m title at the National Senior Championships in 2018, in a personal best time of 44.88 seconds, his hoping for a fresh start in his career and is eager to make the most of this opportunity.
“He has decided to go overseas to train and kind of switch up things a little bit and to go to Florida to train with Rana Reider,” Myers said.
“He is looking to make the final touch in his career and to just change up things a bit in his career and so to also do some recuperating because he is severely injured,” said Myers, while added that his organisation will be doing all that it can to ensure the young sprint star received at the necessary support that he needs.
“We are just interested in helping him with his career because he wants to explore other options and kind of just make a move,” Myers stated.
Reider, 48, is a world-renowned coach, who has trained some of the world’s best track and field athletes.
Among his pupils are American Olympic triple jump gold medallist Christian Taylor, Canadian triple Olympic medallist Andre De Grasse, two-time world champion Dafne Schippers, and Olympic sprinter and long jumper Tiana Bartoletta.
‘We are just interested in helping him with his career because he wants to explore other options and kind of just make a move.’