Local women's 400-metre record holder, United States-based Aliann Pompey set a second national track record in one month but had to settle for second in the 2004 Grande Premio Brazil Caixa de Atletismo meet in Belem, Brazil on Sunday.
Pompey returned 51.11 seconds, placing second to United States' Monique Hennagan (51.10). But she eclipsed the 51.34 she (Pompey) recorded in the semi-final of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. She subsequently went on to win gold in that final.
On May 1 this year, Pompey erased the national 200-metre track record when she returned 23.3 to win a 200-metre race at a Princeton University meet. She had set a national record of 23.59 seconds for the distance at a meet in Fairfax Virginia, USA in 1997.
Asked how she felt about setting a new local record for the 400 metres, Pompey, speaking to Stabroek Sport by telephone said "I feel good about setting a new national record, but I'm upset that I lost the race. This means going back to the drawing board for now." Pompey said she will be in action again in another two weeks in Europe.
On Sunday, Hennagan set a seasonal personal best time of 51.10 when she beat Pompey (51.11), while South Africa's Estie Wittstock (51.48) placed third. In doing so, Wittstock achieved the `A' standard for the Athens Games. Jamaica's Sandie Richards placed sixth in 52.74 seconds.
One week ago, Pompey returned 51.58 to win the 400 metres in another Grande Premio meet in Rio de Janeiro. At that meet, she beat Hennagan (51.67) into second place, while South Africa's Heide Seyerling placed third in 52.01 seconds. Seyerling's compatriot Wittstock placed fourth in 52.05, while Richards had also placed sixth in that event. Richards returned 52.63 seconds.
At last year's Pan American games in the Dominican Republic, Pompey returned 52.06, placing third in the 400-metres.
The event was won by world 400-metre record holder Ana Guevara of Mexico (50.36). Hazel Ann Regis of Grenada placed second in 51.56.
Pompey made the 'A' standard for the Athens Olympics at a Grand Prix meet in Poland last year.
Pompey said that in the 400-metre race in Rio de Janeiro last weekend, she went out very fast for the first 200 metres but Hennagan was ahead of her al the while.
However at the 350-metre mark she surged ahead and won from Hennagan, and though it was slower than her previous personal best time (51.34) it was still a good time.
"On Sunday, I broke out at a good pace and we were neck and neck to the line, but she [Hennagan] dipped at the line and won. I did not dip and that's where I lost the race, but she has a faster personal best time than I do," Pompey said.
Pompey said she is satisfied with her progress to date leading up to Athens 2004. "It's going exactly as my coach [Joe Ryan] expected," Pompey offered. She said she will run in at least another six meets or so and this includes both the 200 and 400-metre events. "I have to work on my speed so that's why I will be competing in some 200-metre races as well, leading up to the Olympics."
Pompey said she met Guyana Olympic Associa-tion President Claude Blackmoore at Sunday's meet and he wished her luck before the race and congratulated her afterwards.