Pompey slows pace at US alumni meet
Gears up for big races in Brazil
Stabroek News
May 12, 2004
Athens 2004 qualifier Aliann Pompey re-turned a slow 53.29 seconds for her pet 400-metre at the St John's Alumni Invitational Meet in the US over the weekend.
Speaking to Stabroek Sports by telephone yesterday, Pompey said "the weather was terrible between 52 and 55 degrees, so I just used the meet as a training session. I did 23.69 seconds for the 200-metre and 53.29 seconds for the 400-metre."
Pompey said she also did some weight training the very day along with other training methods to get in shape for two big meets in Brazil this Sunday and next Sunday, so she did not extend herself.
"I'll be contesting two 400-metre events on the two days and I'll be looking to run my best for the 2004 season leading up to Commonwealth Games 400-metre gold medallist and national 400-metre record holder said.
On Sunday, she will be contesting the 400-metre at the Grande Premio in Rio de Janeiro and on May 23, she will participate in the Grande Premio Brazil, Caixa meet.
Pompey erased the national 200-metre track record two weekends ago when she returned 23.3 seconds for the distance in the Princeton University, USA meet.
Pompey has set a 23.59 seconds national record for the distance at a meet in Fairfax Virginia, USA in 1997.
Last month Pompey told Stabroek Sport she is faster than she has ever been, much stronger and ready to run.
Pompey had clocked 51.34 seconds to win the gold medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. She also copped bronze at the Pan American Games last year. (Michael DaSilva)