Shaun Dietz Coach of Guyana’s 400m phenom Kadecia Baird says that he would not be surprised if his athlete qualifies for the finals of the 400m at this year’s IAAF World Championships in Russia.
Baird is drawn in lane two of heat one of five heats for the women’s 400m with the top two automatically qualifying for the semi-finals.
Her season best of 51.32 seconds is the third fastest of the group behind Russia’s Antonina Krivoshapka 49.57s and USA’s Ashley Spencer 50.28.
The 400m event will see athletes such as Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu, Jamaica’s Novlene Williams-Mills, Botswana Amantle Montsho and Nigeria’s Regina George battling for the gold medal but Baird feels that she is ready to compete against those elite athletes.
“It not going to be easy but I am ready to compete with the best,” she said prior to her departure for the World Championships.
Despite this being her first World Championships Baird is confident, a confidence based on her recent CAC games gold medal success and from her training sessions under Dietz.
The US-based athlete said her sessions over the past three weeks with Dietz were basically to sharpen her technique and skills including her race pattern and a strong finish.
The CARIFTA Games 400m bronze medalists stated: “I feel confident in the training that Coach Dietz put me through. I could not have done it without him; he is such a great Coach.”
Dietz said that the quarter miler was in the best shape ever.
“If she runs the way I know she can a lot of people will be surprised but I will not be. She is fast enough to make the finals and she can make Guyana proud,” commented Dietz.
The Barcelona, Spain World Junior Championship silver medalist qualified with an ‘A’ Standard for the World Games with her season best performance of 51.32 seconds in Mexico earlier this year.
Baird is expected to produce an outstanding performance in the Women’s 400m heats today but as far as times are concerned at the Games, Baird said “I rather run them than talk about them.”
Baird admitted to being somewhat anxious at times at major competitions but according to her, Coach Dietz knows how to refocus her thoughts.
“With Coach Dietz at my side I know I am in good hands. At times I might be overcome with too much nervousness, he knows the ways to get me back on track,” she said.
Baird, who is hoping to fly the Golden Arrowhead in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, said: “I will always do my best when given the opportunity. It is never easy competing overseas but I am getting better at it.”
Baird will run in heat one of lane two against Antonina Krivoshapka (Russia), Kineke Alexander (St. Vincent), Ashley Spencer (USA), Omolara Omotoso (Nigera), Olesea Cojuhari (Moldova) and Agne Šerkšniené (Lithuania) in the Women’s 400m.
