
Originally Posted by
Witton Park
It's a mixed bag, but we also have to look at the imports we had this year, and I don't include Mo in that. We had Tiffany Porter in Sprint Hurdles, Yamile Aldama in Triple Jump, Shana Cox 400m... could be more.
I actually think we have got the athletes - look at some of the other medal contenders who didn't quite make it.
Dai Greene - 400 Hurdles
Philips Idowu - Triple Jump
Holly Bleasdale - Pole Vault (from my club)
Hannah England - 1500m
Shara Proctor - Long Jump - (an import really)
Goldie Sayers - Javelin
Peri Shakes-Drayton - 400 hurdles
Chris Tomlinson - Long Jump
and then the relays where we had a chance on paper in 3 out of 4 of getting a medal.
On another day perhaps? A case of bad luck?
I don't think so.
We clearly had some athletes who hit their peak early and couldn't perform to their seasons bests. All 8 of those athletes above plus the 3 imports were below their season's bests let alone their PBs in the Olympics.
They are all funded athletes.
I know Holly really well. I think it was a little inexperience on the day - perhaps from coach as well. As a pair they have worked phenomenally well together taking her to 4.87m indoors this winter, the 3rd highest of all time. 5 years ago she was a hurdler.
But both are learning - all the women vaulters struggled in the difficult conditions and she came a creditable 6th when in a heart I'm sure she fancied a medal.
But the others are all experienced performers, so I don't know.
I did wonder what the merits of the holding camp in Portugal was though. We have a home advantage, so why go to 35C and club med conditions?
the Jamaicans holding camp was Birmingham.