Bailey more ready for the big moments

Paris, France:

SECURING A professional contract last year with Adidas has taken the pressure off world championship finalist Sean Bailey and provided the platform to be more driven towards producing in the big moments.

Bailey, Jevaughn Powell, and national champion DeAndre Watkin will start their Olympic journeys in the men’s 400-metre heats this morning at 11:05.

Bailey has not needed to chase the fast times this year as opposed to last season where he had to make his case to get signed. He made it to the World Athletics Championship final in Budapest last year and was among a core group of Jamaican quarter-milers clocking 44 seconds consistently.

This year has been about the endgame, the Olympic stage.

“This season has been more about getting ready for the big moment rather than running fast. There is a lot of pressure off us just because we got the contract. That way, we don’t have to run that fast so early. Now it’s all about what you do at the big events,” Bailey told The Sunday Gleaner.

“Any race we went to, we had to run a super-fast time and that affected training and the way that coach would get us ready for any competition early so that we can put down very solid performances. This year, we are just loading.”

His focus on the 400m also comes as the men will not take part in the 4x400 relay at the Olympics for the first time in decades.

Bailey was supposed to be on the team for an attempt at qualification at the national championships but had to withdraw after feeling discomfort during his warmups.

“Hamstrings were really bothering me doing simple strides. So we didn’t want to go out there and just jeopardise the team because I would be on the fastest team that had the most probability of making the standard,” Bailey said.

“So I didn’t want to go out there and stop and that would be even more backlash on myself.”

Bailey has gone consistently 44 seconds since May and while he knows he will need to go faster to have a chance at getting on the podium, he also recognises the importance of proper execution.

“It might not take 43 seconds to win. It might take 43 or 44 but it is just who executes on the day. Late in the trials, we were loading a little bit. I mean we tapered it a little bit but not too much, just to make the team. And now is the big moment,” Bailey said.