United States based Guyanese Aliann Pompey, who failed to qualify for the final of the women’s 400-metre event at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England, said she went out there and tried her best but failed.
Questioned about her performance via the internet, Pompey stated that many things affected her before and during the race. She cited a change in the lane draw before her semi-final, personal problems and a slow start among others.
“They actually redrew the lane draw before the competition. I was in what I consider the more difficult heat since most people in my heat are known for going out over the first 200m very, very fast and unfortunately, in lane 1 (which she ended up in), there was very little I could have done. I always thought it was a mental thing and that lane 1 was not so daunting, apparently I am wrong” Pompey stated.
The 2002 Commonwealth Games 400-metre gold medalist said she is not pleased with the time (52.74 seconds) she returned for the semi-final “I feel like I can run that time or close to it whenever I chose”.
The Business administration student who hopes to complete university this year said prior to the race, she was having a very tight hip flexor but got some work done on it. “Being in lane 1 does not help that at all” Pompey Stated.
“There was also a lot going on behind the scenes that I was just trying to put out my mind and deal with after the competition, but it was hard. Overall I am happy that at least I got the experience. I really, really felt that if it was the way it was originally set, i would have made it to the finals”.
“I was mentally prepared to run with those people. I know how Monique (Hennagan) runs and I know how Ronetta (Smith) runs, so I knew where I would have to be in comparison to them at what point in my race, so I knew what I had to do, and I was ready to do it, but when I showed up for competition, Ronetta was not in the semi’s, and Monique was not in my heat, and I was in the worst lane possible. I hate to sound like I am complaining, but my heart really did sink a bit when I heard that. But I think that’s a bad situation to be put in RIGHT BEFORE YOU RUN.
“But i went out there and tried to make the best of it, my only thought was to go out with them, but when they go out in 23.2, I would kill myself for the last 200 if I went with them. I ran a strong last 200m, but I lost the race because of my start and first 200m. I have a lot of work to do for outdoors and a fair amount of time, so I should be able to get it.