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• T&T cyclist Paul draws inspiration from tough 2022 season, targets more success after recent win in Germany

  It is so far so good for top Trinidad and Tobago cyclist Nicholas Paul on the international circuit, and he is determined to keep that rhythm going for the remainder of the season.

  While he is well aware that it is easier said than done, Paul has no intentions of overthinking things. Instead, the 24-year-old is focused on the basics –ensuring he is fit, healthy and trusting the process.

  Paul's revelation came after he won the Men’s Elite Sprint gold medal at the International Cycling Union (UCI) Class One event in Germany recently, which he believes puts him on course to achieve his targets this year.

  The win followed his series of unstoppable performances at the UCI Nation’s Cup in Milton Canada, as well as the ‘Speed Paradise’ and the Carnival of Speed events at the National Cycling Centre (NCC) in Balmain, Couva, all in April.

  "My race in Germany was great. I came away with the victory in the sprints and I executed all my other races well, so I’m really pleased with my performance," Paul said.

  "So, in terms of my readiness and preparations, I am on track in regard to my set goals, I just have to keep working hard to get faster, stronger and smarter for the rest of my upcoming races," he added.

  In any sport, there are always ups and downs and when things are going bad it seems a bit harder, much like Paul experienced during a challenging but successful 2022 season through which he had to exercise patience, persistence and more importantly, smile in the face of adversity.

  At the start of that season, Paul crashed and broke his collarbone at the First Nations Cup in Glasgow, Scotland and was out of training and competitions for about two months. 

  After recovering from that injury, the Gasparillo-born cyclist went on to win two gold medals at the Third Nations Cup in Cali, Colombia and followed that up with impressive performances at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, setting a new Games Record in the flying 200m Time Trial. He also won a full set of medals gold, silver and bronze in the Keirin, Sprints and 1km Time Trial.

  But then came another setback.

  "My last event should have been the World Championship in France. However, another unfortunate crash in preparation for the World Championship prematurely ended my 2022 season," Paul shared.

  "So, there were a lot of highs and lows last season, but they taught me a lot as an athlete. My mental preparedness in sports has been enhanced and I am very clear that nothing is impossible once you put your mind to it. Hurdles are sometimes a part of life but the lesson is how you rise above your hurdles," he said.

  Now that things are back on track and he is currently enjoying a high, Paul is hoping to add more silverware from the Pan American Cycling Championships, the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, World Championships and the Pan American Games, to his collection.

  "But my overall goal for this year and beyond is to firstly qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games and secondly, try to win a medal or medals at the Olympic Games for Trinidad and Tobago," Paul declared.

• Following Racers Grand Prix victory, 400m hurdler Shian Salmon plots for a personal best and a ticket to Budapest

  Shian Salmon’s win at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston was another step towards achieving a personal best this season and with it, a place on Jamaica’s team to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this summer.

  Following her victory, the 24-year-old Salmon, revealed that while she was not pleased with the winning time of 55.10, was elated at the fact that this was her third win from five races so far this season.

  “My season is going awesome. The conditions weren’t what I expected but who cares about times when you’re winning,” said Salmon, who went into Saturday’s race off a 54.42 third-place finish at the Diamond League in Rabat, Morocco on May 28.

  “I came out here to win and did just that so I am happy with my performance.”

  The time might not have been important on Saturday, but it will be as the season unfolds for Hydel High alum who ran a personal best of 53.82 on that same track during Jamaica’s National Championships in 2022.

   “If I am being really honest, I am just trying to get back to my personal best and go beyond that; anything I get I will be grateful,” said the 2018 World U20 400m hurdles silver medallist, who believes a new personal best will assure her a ticket to the World Championships in Budapest in August.

  “There are three spots available at trials and I am aiming to get one of them. Whatever time gets me into the top three I will be happy with that.”

  Having beaten all the contenders for those three available spots, Salmon revealed, has boosted her confidence that she will be able to do so once again once the championships begin in July.

  “But of course (I am confident). I don’t want people to be beating me left and right so whenever I get the chance to beat them, I beat them.”

  For her next race, most likely in Europe, Salmon hopes to take a crack at her personal best that will further empower her to return to Jamaica knowing that only good things can come from it.

  “Hopefully, the conditions will be right and I can get close to my personal best but I am just aiming to perfect my execution and I will be okay.”

   

   

   

• Happy and grounded Jackson says nurturing mental wellbeing key to success

  Shericka Jackson knows that her many fans in Jamaica and around the world hold her to high regard each time she touches the track. But as an athlete who has had her fair share of ups and downs throughout a now sizzling career, Jackson is also aware that there are those that stand ready to badmouth her when things don't go according to plan.

  It is for that reason why the reigning 200m world champion and the second-fastest woman of all time over the distance, unburdened herself of the high expectations from others by virtue of focusing on her mental health, while trusting her body and coach.

  "I am not a person who cracks under pressure in terms of what people expect of me. I know what I am capable of, coach knows what I am capable of, and I think we are a good combination to achieve what I want to achieve, it is just for me to stay focus," Jackson said.

  "I said this before, I think 2021 Olympics when I never made it in the 200m, I think that broke me mentally and I had to go back to the drawing board and know that people will talk but you just have to focus on the goals that you want.

  "It took the hard way for me to actually learn that, but coach and I have been working on things. Mental health is very important to me so definitely, I try to stay grounded as best as possible, if I feel like I'm not in it for training on any given day, I go to coach and talk to him or I go to a therapist. So, I am grounded right now, I am happy, and I am definitely looking forward to great things," she added.

  Jackson's declaration followed another electrifying performance over 100m, as she clocked a meet record 10.78s at the Racers Grand Prix inside the National Stadium last Saturday.

  The margin of victory and the fact that Jackson had a slight stumble close to the end of the race, underlines the impressive form she currently enjoys, and the 28-year-old believes she is on course to possibly achieving more than she did last year. 

  This, as she reflected on the fact that she didn't hit the 10.7s mark until late June last year when she won the national championship.

  "I think I made a little misstep at the ending of the race which I think coach and I will definitely go back to the drawing board about because it happened last year at the World Championships, and it happened at the trials. So, coach and I will figure out how to correct those, but I am super excited, 10.78 at the early part of June, I can't complain," she said.

  "I wanted to run 10.75 but I said OK then I'll take 10.78, I actually wrote it down on a piece of paper because coach and I talk about writing what you want to achieve and tell yourself that it is achievable, so this time early June I am super excited for the season," Jackson, who has a personal best of 10.71s over 100m, noted.

  Having clocked 10.73s for the 100m silver medal in Oregon last season, Jackson is no doubt highly motivated to better that performance and secure her first World Championships 100m title, as well as to successful defend her 200m crown.

  The 21.45s she ran to win the gold medal in Eugene, Oregon, was a new national and championship record. Only Florence Griffith-Joyner of the USA (21.34s) has run faster.

  "One of my aims is to make it at the 100m because I already have a mind for the 200m. So, I am definitely motivated, I do not have a 100m World Championships title and that is one of my goals this year to achieve, it's just for me to stay focused.  

   "I am confident, and I am healthy once I stay healthy anything is possible.  I know I definitely can go faster, and I am working to go faster so it's just to stay focused," Jackson reasoned.

  Though her spot in the 100m for the August 19-27 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, seems safe, Jackson stressed the need for an efficient execution at upcoming National Trials.

  "I just want to run a solid 100m at the Jamaica trials because anything can happen, so I just want to ensure that on the day of competition I am ready and focused. So right now, it's just to work on certain aspect of the race," she ended.