Simpson hoping for CAC boost
Published:Thursday | July 26, 2018 | 12:00 AMAkino Ming/Staff Reporter
Sherone Simpson knows that a victory in the 100m at the 23rd staging of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, next week will inject some impetus into her career again.
And with this understanding, she is approaching the games very seriously.
"I am taking this games very serious. I have taken all the games that I have been to serious, but it would mean a lot to me to win at CAC this year," Simpson told The Gleaner earlier this week before jetting off to the South American country.
"The main aim is to win a medal at the World Championship next year, and I am well aware of what winning here could do towards that."
Before returning to the sport in January of this year, the Maurice Wilson-coached athlete took time off to give birth to her first child, and winning at the CAC Games would be a great ending to a relatively modest first season back.
SUPPORT SYSTEM
"I have a good support system that made it easier for me to be a mom and train," she said earlier this year.
It is not the first time that the 2008 Olympic 100m silver medallist has been required to make a comeback.
After extricating herself from an 18-month doping suspension via the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2014, Simpson captured the Pan American Games title in the 100m a year later in fine style.
That victory was a great confidence booster going into the Olympic Games in 2016, but Simpson put her dreams on hold for the coming of her daughter, LeAnna Hudson.
"I remember when I won at the Pan American Games, and that was a very big deal, "she said.
Simpson, who has a season-best time of 11.35 seconds, is hoping for similar results, but she will have to contend with her compatriot and rising star Jonielle Smith, who is coming off a good showing at the London Diamond League last weekend, where she ran a personal-best time of 11.07 seconds.