FROM LEFT: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, Allyson Felix of the US and compatriots Brittney Reese and Christian Taylor tour the Olympic Museum at Museum of Islamic Arts yesterday. PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL
DOHA: American long jumper Brittney Reese, who has been in unbeatable form over the last four years, feels confident that she can hit the ground running in the season-opener at Qatar Sports Club tomorrow.
“I am ready. I am not all the way full approach yet, but I have been jumping well,” the London Olympic Games gold medalist said yesterday.
“I feel that I am prepared now and in the next two weeks, I should be full approach. Now I am just three quarters of the approach (but) I feel great,” the four-time world champion said.
The American has been able to put things together following a move to San Diego, California, last year after bagging the gold medal in London.
“I have moved to San Diego where I will have more options to train outdoors. I won’t be indoor most of my season,” she said.
“I will be outdoor mainly. My coach has moved to Louisville, Kentucky. He has a job in Luoisville. And it made me move to San Diego to train under him. The weather is better also,” Reese said. “I am adjusting. It is just a two-hour time difference to where I was training. But other than everything is going great,” she added.
“I am progressing well. I am excited that I am putting things together,” Reese explained. The American said she could do with a bit of personal improvement.
“This season I want to improve my landing. I think it’s the landing that I am having trouble with,” Reese said.
When asked about the secret behind her dominating form, Reese said: “I don’t think about the records. I just want to go out and have fun. That’s the key to winning and dominating.”
The first woman to win back-to-back World Indoor titles in the long jump, Reese said intense competition doesn’t worry her.
“I think right now the women’s long jump is really competitive and everyone wants jump seven meters,” Reese said.
“I have no problem jumping seven meters in order to get a win but in an effort for me to get a win, I want to have the American record at some meet,” the American said. “Other than that, I am still doing the same things, still preparing the same way,” she said.
THE PENINSULA
