From:TheBahamasWeekly.com

Sports
Jamaica's Elaine Thompson has high hopes for IAAF Relays
By Local Organizing Committee, IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2017
Apr 19, 2017 - 12:22:56 AM

IAAF_-_Elaine_Thpmpson_pic.jpg

As far as female sprinting is concerned, she wears the crown and Jamaican speedster Elaine Thompson is looking to take her reign to The Bahamas at this year’s IAAF / BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017 in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Gold in the 100m and 200m at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games were the crown jewels in a dominant 2016 for Thompson, who is eager to experience her first taste of The Bahamas and the high-octane international relay carnival, which is set to ignite the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau on April 22 and 23.

Thompson is certainly not new to the relay scene, having played crucial roles in medal – winning Jamaican relay teams at major championships over the past couple years.

The 24 year-old ran a blistering curve at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China as the Jamaicans won their second consecutive gold medal in the event at the World Championships before logging a powerful backstretch in the team’s silver medal run at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil a year later.

Thompson, who said she is looking forward to being named to the Island’s team to the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017, knows that a lot will be expected of her if the Jamaicans are to successfully defend the 4x100m title they won in Nassau two years ago. Of course, she could also opt to compete in the 4x200m relays, which in itself may present the promise of greater satisfaction for her, considering the country has never won the event at these championships after third and second placed finished at the two installments to date.

“Yes I am really looking forward to the World Relays. I have never been to the World Relays before and I am looking forward to it this year because I know that when Team Jamaica steps out in the relays we are always looking to give a great performance and I am hoping to be on the team this year,” Thompson said, underlining her intentions to compete for the first time in The Bahamas.

“I am a big fan of the relays in general and the World Relays seem like a really exciting meet and I am really looking forward to being in The Bahamas,” Thompson added. “It’s a long season but the preparation has been going well for the World Championships this year and my main focus is to stay focused and injury-free.”

In addition to winning two gold medals at the Olympic Games last year, she also ended with the fastest times in the 100m (10.70) and 200m (21.78) for the season and will be hoping that the Caribbean relay carnival will provide a perfect launching pad for another dominating season on the track.



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