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Lee craves more success after first season as senior
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Despite ending the season with a World Championships 4x100m relay gold medal after taking part in the qualifying rounds in Daegu, South Korea, three times world champion Dexter Lee says he had hoped to get more out of the 2011 season, his first as a senior.
Lee, who returned home yesterday, said he was "satisfied" with the season where he achieved his personal best 10.06 seconds in the 100m and made two national teams, but thought he should have gone under the 10.00 seconds barrier.
Dexter Lee (second right) poses with a group of airport workers shortly after his arrival at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay yesterday. (Photo: Paul Reid)
"Next year for sure," he vowed would be when he joins that group of 12 other Jamaicans who have dipped under the mark.
Lee was almost mobbed by a number of airport workers when he exited the arrivals terminal at the Sangster International Airport, his gold medal around his neck as he signed autographs.
The former Herbert Morrison student, who had won a World Youths and two World Junior titles, said he was overwhelmed by the welcome and thought he would have been able to slip in the country unnoticed.
He said his World Championships experience was a good one, as in addition to winning a medal, he got to cement better relationships with a number of the country's top sprinters, including former world record holder Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter and Michael Frater.
"I fit in well with the others in the team and the camp went well," he told the Observer, adding he was looking forward to making the team to London for the Olympics next year.
"This just inspired me to look forward to next year and I want to make the team next year, not just for the relays but on my own in the 100m," he said, before adding that he knew that he would have to work harder in the gym in the off-season, as well as running more 200m races in the early season to help build up his endurance.
When asked if he would be adding more 400m to his routine after running the event at the Gibson Relays, he said that was left to be seen.
Running under 10.00 seconds early in the season would help and he thought he came close while taking part in a series on the Brazilian professional circuit, but said he had a bad start when he ran the 10.06 seconds.
Instead of being nervous when he took his place on the anchor leg of the Jamaican team in the heats of the relay, Lee told the Observer he was "just happy to be running in the World Championships for Jamaica".
His happiness was multiplied several times over when he watched the team anchored by 200m champion Usain Bolt win the race in a new world record 37.04 seconds, pointing out where the event and time is etched on the back of the medal that was handed to him by team leader Grace Jackson after the medal ceremony.
He said his roommate Leford Green, who was in his first World Championships team also, helped as the older athlete kept him focused and encouraged him.
Lee and Green were both on the team that took part in the Central American and Caribbean Senior Championships in Puerto Rico in July where Green won the 400m hurdles and was third in the 4x400m relays, while Lee was third in the 100m and won gold in the 4x100m relays.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1XHruIGUw
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer
Wednesday, September 07, 2011
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Despite ending the season with a World Championships 4x100m relay gold medal after taking part in the qualifying rounds in Daegu, South Korea, three times world champion Dexter Lee says he had hoped to get more out of the 2011 season, his first as a senior.
Lee, who returned home yesterday, said he was "satisfied" with the season where he achieved his personal best 10.06 seconds in the 100m and made two national teams, but thought he should have gone under the 10.00 seconds barrier.
Dexter Lee (second right) poses with a group of airport workers shortly after his arrival at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay yesterday. (Photo: Paul Reid)
"Next year for sure," he vowed would be when he joins that group of 12 other Jamaicans who have dipped under the mark.
Lee was almost mobbed by a number of airport workers when he exited the arrivals terminal at the Sangster International Airport, his gold medal around his neck as he signed autographs.
The former Herbert Morrison student, who had won a World Youths and two World Junior titles, said he was overwhelmed by the welcome and thought he would have been able to slip in the country unnoticed.
He said his World Championships experience was a good one, as in addition to winning a medal, he got to cement better relationships with a number of the country's top sprinters, including former world record holder Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter and Michael Frater.
"I fit in well with the others in the team and the camp went well," he told the Observer, adding he was looking forward to making the team to London for the Olympics next year.
"This just inspired me to look forward to next year and I want to make the team next year, not just for the relays but on my own in the 100m," he said, before adding that he knew that he would have to work harder in the gym in the off-season, as well as running more 200m races in the early season to help build up his endurance.
When asked if he would be adding more 400m to his routine after running the event at the Gibson Relays, he said that was left to be seen.
Running under 10.00 seconds early in the season would help and he thought he came close while taking part in a series on the Brazilian professional circuit, but said he had a bad start when he ran the 10.06 seconds.
Instead of being nervous when he took his place on the anchor leg of the Jamaican team in the heats of the relay, Lee told the Observer he was "just happy to be running in the World Championships for Jamaica".
His happiness was multiplied several times over when he watched the team anchored by 200m champion Usain Bolt win the race in a new world record 37.04 seconds, pointing out where the event and time is etched on the back of the medal that was handed to him by team leader Grace Jackson after the medal ceremony.
He said his roommate Leford Green, who was in his first World Championships team also, helped as the older athlete kept him focused and encouraged him.
Lee and Green were both on the team that took part in the Central American and Caribbean Senior Championships in Puerto Rico in July where Green won the 400m hurdles and was third in the 4x400m relays, while Lee was third in the 100m and won gold in the 4x100m relays.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport...#ixzz1XHruIGUw
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