The talented 26-year-old sprinter, whose progress over the years has been stymied by injury, says he is fit and ready to go as he takes his first steps towards booking a spot on Jamaica’s team to Tokyo.
“Everything is fully fit. I am ready to go,” Skeen told Sportsmax.TV earlier today from his base in the United States where he trains under the watch of Michael Ford.
Skeen, who has a personal best of 9.98s, was a high school track star in Jamaica and was seen as the next great sprinter to emerge from the island famous for producing the likes of Usain Bolt, Donald Quarrie, Yohan Blake, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter.
However, hamstring injuries prevented him from fulfilling his potential. At Auburn University, it was an ankle problem that held him back and which eventually forced him to undergo surgery in 2018. The pandemic then disrupted his training and competition schedules but he now believes he is ready to take his first steps back into competition.
“Training is going great. I am getting stronger but I am going to be focusing on execution not so much on time,” said Skeen about his plans for this weekend.
He will be competing in his first race since he ran a windy 10.35s in Prairie View Texas on July 30 last year in the midst of the pandemic.
Lawrence, whose twin sister Shardia was sixth in the triple jump, sealed her third victory of the season with a throw of 57.76m in the discus. The Jamaican, who has already achieved the Olympic standard by way of her 63.75m effort in Florida on March 20, took the lead with her third throw of the competition.
However, Rachel Dincoff of the USA came close to taking the lead back with her final throw of 57.72, which was good enough to lock in the silver medal.
Kelsey Card, also of the USA, was third with her best throw of 55.50m.
Meanwhile, Barbadian Brathwaite was a comfortable winner in the 110m hurdles winning in 13.82.
The USA’s Ryan Fontenot was more than 0.10 behind, finishing second in 14.00. Jeff Julmis of Haiti picked up the final podium spot when he crossed in 14.50.
In the Women’s 400m, Jamaica’s Chrisann Gordon-Powell opened her season with a 52.47 as she finished second to the USA’s Jessica Beard who took the win in 52.38. Jaide Stepter Baynes was third in 52.54.
There was also a second-place finish for Shian Salmon in the 400m hurdles. The 2018 World U20 silver medalist clocked 56.90 while finishing behind the USA’s Ashley Spencer who crossed first in 56.36.
Gianna Woodruff of Panama was third in 57.22. Trinidad and Tobago’s Sparkle McKnight was fourth in 57.40.
The men’s 100m was won by Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi in 10.29s. He held off the USA’s Isiah Young who clocked 10.35. Barbados’ Mario Burke ran a season-best 10.51 for third while Jamaica’s Odean Skeen, who is returning to competition after recovering from a series of injuries was fourth in 10.55.
