Smith eager to get going

Jonielle Smith, the last-minute replacement for teenage sensation Briana Williams in the women’s 100m at the Doha World Championships, is still trying to salvage something from the 2020 athletics season.

The former Wolmer’s High School for Girls standout was almost denied an opportunity to build on her breakout season, where she made her first World Championships final, as the coronavirus pandemic brought sports worldwide to a halt.

But with World Athletics announcing new dates for its Diamond League and Continental Tour series last week, Smith hopes that she can build on her gutsy showing at ‘Worlds’ last year.

“I am hoping to achieve some of the goals when the season starts, and I hope everyone can keep safe and work as best as possible in these times,” Smith said.

The 24-year-old stepped up to the plate and made it to the final after she was confirmed for the 100m at the 11th hour.

Her achievements made her one of the favourites to land a spot in the marquee event at the Tokyo Olympics, which has been postponed to the summer of 2021 because of the outbreak of the virus.

IMPACT OF BREAK

Smith does not believe that the break in the season and the postponement of the Games will affect her chances of making the team.

“I don’t think the (break) affected me that much because even though I am not competing, I am still learning and working on things in training,” she said.

After clocking 11.06 seconds for sixth in the 100m final, Smith returned to win gold with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson and her training partner Natalliah Whyte in the 4x100m at Worlds last year.