SPORTS

Kareem turns in world ranked 100-metre time

Kareem Streete-Thompson

Monday, May 3, 2004

Kareem Streete-Thompson ran the 5th fastest 100-metre time in the world in 2004, in Hiroshima, Japan last week with a time of 10.17 seconds.

His time betters the Olympic A time standard of 10.21 seconds and guarantees him a second chance at the Olympic games this summer.

Kareem has already bettered the Olympic A qualifying Standard for the long jump as well as the 100 metres, and now looks toward the 200-metre sprint event.

“That’s two down and one to go,” said Kareem. “It was a beautiful day here and a great day to race.

“My poor time in the qualifying heats (10.31sec) showed that I am still recovering from my 26-hour trip to get here.

“However, I felt a lot better in the final and it makes me eager to get on to the next legs of this Japanese tour.”

As part of his Japanese tour, Kareem is running in the 200-metre sprint in Shizuoka, Japan on 3 May, the long jump in Mito, Japan on 5 May, and will quite possibly get a lane in the 100-metre sprint in Osaka, Japan on 8 May.

“Actually, based on the form that I showed in the final, I may try and double in Mito by adding the 100-metre sprint,” said Kareem.

“The Japanese and Australian sprinters here in Hiroshima are in tremendous racing shape, as they have been training and competing for the past few months in the heat of Australia.

“It gives me a great yardstick to gauge my own training and preparations for Athens.”

Kareem was edged out in the 100 metres by Japanese speedster Nobuharu Asahara, who came in with a time of 10.16 seconds.

Kareem noted: “I now need to begin ratcheting down on my mechanics and consistently work my times down to where I can feel confident that I can make the 100-metre final in Athens.

“After punching my ticket today for Athens, there is a lot less pressure on me, and I can better focus on the process that my coach and I have laid out between now and August.”

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