Russell on target for hurdles run
CALABAR HIGH’S ace Class One sprint hurdler, De’Jour Russell, the 2015 Class two 100m winner and last year’s Class Two 110 hurdles champion, could still make an individual appearance at this year’s ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls’ Championships now on at the National Stadium.
Russell suffered a minor strain in training last Friday and acting on advice from the school’s doctors, the Calabar camp decided to pull the powerful sprinter from the 100 metres.
TENTATIVE COMPETITOR
However, the school tentatively has him to compete in the 110 hurdles, and although his appearance will depend largely on a fitness test prior to his participation in the hurdles, assistant coach Omar Hawes said yesterday he is positive that Russell will turn out for the race.
“Last week Friday, he (Russell) had a cramp and the medical persons who examined him advised us to take it easy. We made a decision Saturday night after he came from the doctor to pull him from the explosive 100m,” he said.
Hawes said Russell’s progress has been remarkable but they still do not intend to take any chances with him if he is not 100 per cent ready. “He has shown continued progress in training ... If the warm up goes well, then he goes out (this morning), if not we are going to pull him. “We will make sure he is the best shape possible to go out and compete, if that’s not the case we will make a decision but it is looking good in terms of his progress from last week Friday to today,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Hawes says the Red Hills Road school’s title defence is in tact after two days.
“The first day we did well enough to garner points. Day two looked much better for us in terms of qualification for the finals, and we are just taking things in stride one day at a time, but it is looking good and if it continues the title defence is in a better place.