Seville not feeling the pressure

AFTER POCKETING his second sub-10-second performance of the season, sprinter Oblique Seville is not focused on the pressure to live up to the elevated expectations that came with his performances last season but is committed to staying the course for his own development.

Seville took victory in the 100 metres last weekend at the Atlanta City Games meet, clocking 9.99 seconds, his second sub-10 performance of the season ahead of Akani Simbine (10.01) and his Racers Track Club teammate, Zharnel Hughes, 10.07. Seville’s countryman Ryiem Forde was fourth in 10.07

This is Seville’s second meet outside of Jamaica, having competed at the Miramar Invitational in Florida last month.

Competing for the first time in a month, Seville said that the focus has always been on his own growth although he knows that given his strong performances last season, there were high expectations.

“I don’t feel pressure because as long as you perform to the extreme a lot of people are going to have high expectations. But it is just for you to do what you can do,” Seville said after the race. Seville clocked seven sub-10 times last season, highlighted by a 9.86 run last May. That campaign also saw him finish fourth in his first World Championship final.

Meanwhile, in other results for the Jamaicans, Antonio Watson finished fourth in the men’s 150 metres, clocking 14.93 seconds in a race won by world 200m champion, Noah Lyles. Rajay Hamilton was third in the men’s 600m.

Among the women, Ashanti Moore was third the women’s 100m, clocking 11.10 to finish behind the winner, United States’ Aleia Hobbs (10.99). Ramona Burchell was second in the women’s 150m in 16.73, while Natoya Goule was second in the women’s 600m in 1:28.18 minutes. Crystal Morrison finished fourth in her 100m hurdles heat in 13.33 and did not advance to the final. Former world 100m champion Danielle Williams also had a difficult day, finishing fourth in her heat in 12.92.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com