South American junior bronze medalist Stephan James is feeling confident going into the 2012 season as he plans to represent Guyana at every international junior competition there is this year.
“Well right now, this early in the year I just want to represent Guyana at every international junior meet possible,” the bronze medalist told Stabroek Sport.
The eighteen-year-old ended his historic and successful 2011 campaign on a bad note at last year’s Schools Nationals when he worsened a hip injury he was nursing by competing in an unfamiliar event in the 100 metres.
He then had to pull out of the remainder of the games; and missed his regular events in the 200 and 400 metres. However, he is making progress since then.
The national 400 metres junior champion told Stabroek Sport: “Well we are still working on my hip but it’s coming along fine and it should be ready by the time the season gets started.”
While most athletes at this time will be eyeing a shot at the Olympics, James along with his coaches are still in the planning stages of what the year will look like for the under-23 400 metres champion.
“We are now going into that pre-competition phase so right now we are focusing on getting me healthy so we haven’t really looked at my goals because we are now planning things out,” James commented.
However, the 2011 Inter-Guiana 200 and 400 metres gold medalist did indicate that his training is coming along well and should aid him in having another successful junior year on the track.
“Yeah, well training is coming along fine, it’s hard and good so I’m pretty confident that I’ll have a good season,” the bronze medalist told Stabroek Sport.
James who is the first junior Guyanese athlete to make the finals of a Pan American junior games also told Stabroek Sport that he expects faster times this season.
“Well I’m going out there to do my best and I expect myself to run faster times as well,” James said confidently.
James missed out on bronze at last year’s Carifta Games when he placed fourth in the final.
However, as the only Guyanese to make a junior Pan American final along with capturing South American bronze and claiming Inter-Guiana 200, 400, 4×100 and 4×400 metres gold, all eyes will be on the young talent to see how he progresses in his athletic career.
