‘I’m still working on it’

Paris, France:

NATIONAL 200-METRE champion Bryan Levell has had to go through the growing pains of being an international athlete but is relishing the opportunity, beginning with his first major global championship semi-final.

Levell’s second-place finish in the men’s 200-metre repechage round in 20.47 seconds was good enough to qualify for today’s semi-final at 1:02 pm.

Levell will be Jamaica’s lone representative in the event after teammate, Andrew Hudson, failed to advance from his repechage heat.

It has been an education for Levell, who won his first national title at the national championships in June, going sub-20 for the first time in his career. After two tough rounds, he knows he still has growing to do.

“It’s been a rather rough journey for me. I don’t think that I have put together a good race. But I am still working on it. Going into the semi-finals, I have to put in a good race,” Levell said.

“I think the transition coming off the turn. I think I was a bit lazy there,” said Levell, who watched as Canada’s Brendon Rodney, circled him just as he was coming into the straight.

Levell has been under the instruction of Shanieke Osbourne this season, which has been beneficial for him, achieving his first sub-20 second clocking, 19.97 seconds. Now, he knows he must do it again.

“Most of the guys out there are going sub-20 so I have to run that (to have a chance for the finals),” Levell said.

“It is a learning process. I still have more chances to develop and improve in more areas. So I am just taking it step by step.”

Daniel Wheeler