Sun | Nov 17, 2024

Rollins ready for shot at Olympics

Published:Wednesday | June 8, 2016 | 12:00 AMDania Bogle
Gladstone Taylor
The United States' Brianna Rollins (right) competes alongside Jamaica's Danielle Williams during the women's 100-metre hurdles at the Jamaica International Invitational meet at the National Stadium last month.

OSLO, Norway:

AFTER a silver medal finish in the women's 60m hurdles at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon in March, American Brianna Rollins said she feels this is her best shot at making the US Olympic team.

"I feel that my season has been going really well. I've been training so hard, just focusing on the off-season and making this Olympic team. I'm just super excited. I'm just progressing and been very consistent throughout my season so I'm looking forward to the Olympic trials this month," she said.

Rollins, the 2013 IAAF World champion over 100m hurdles, clocked her personal best and a then-American record 12.26 seconds in 2013, but has in her own words struggled to keep form since then.

Now she sees herself in the kind of shape she wants to be in at the right moment.

"I feel that that this year is the year that I've actually been pretty consistent. I've been dropping my times. I've been running pretty decent times and I feel like I will be able to do that this year," the 24-year-old said.

Her American record was lowered a few weeks ago by Kendra Harrison to 12.24, but that doesn't bother Rollins.

 

TRUSTING THE PROCESS

 

"I don't feel worried. I just continue training and trusting the process, also not to focus too much on what people are doing, just to focus on myself because at the end of the day it doesn't matter what people are doing, you just focus on yourself."

Rollins said her focus is all about making the team and making the podium.

"I feel that when it's your time to run you just run fast and it's all in God's plan," she said.

Rollins, who was second to Harrison in a time of 12.57 seconds in the women's 100m hurdles at the Diamond League meet in Birmingham on Sunday, is using that as a marker of her progress and is anticipating a good race here this afternoon.

"Hopefully I can run an even better time and come out with the victory," she said, adding that after the trials her focus will be on preparing for the Olympics.