A VERY fast start is Lindel Frater's big weapon as he prepares to meet the world's best at next month's Olympic Games.
Frater, the many-time Boys' Champs and Carifta Games 100m titlist, believes he has to get everything correct to endure the rounds at his second Olympic Games.
"Technically, my start and the first 50m are good," said Frater. "But the last 30m is where everybody starts to come down at me and that's generally where I am focussing my attention right now," added the 22-year-old.
Frater captured his first national 100m title at last month's Olympic Trials in 10.10. His bullet start had him metres ahead at the half-way stage, however he was nearly pipped on the line as the field came at him in the last 20 metres.
"We had some excellent competition and some good times coming in the Trials. I think we have a great 4x100m squad for the Olympics," he said.
Frater has not run a race since the Trials, but says he is ready for the big guns.
"The 100m is a very technical race. If I put everything together I will be up there with all the top guys, like Maurice Greene. I just need to stay focussed," said Frater who ran a personal best time of 10.07 when finishing third in the semi-finals at the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) earlier this year.
The 10.07 is this year's second fastest time by a Jamaican. Christopher Williams the runner-up to Frater in the National 100m (10.11) is the leader with 10.05, recorded in the semi-finals at the Championships.
"My goal for the Olympics is to make it to the final. A medal will be a big bonus," he said.
Frater does not fear the top class opposition he will meet at the Olympics.
"You can't have any fear in track, no, no. Some days you are going to get beaten and on others you are going to come out on top," he said with a chuckle.
Frater qualified for the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 while still a student at Wolmer's Boys, however, injury ruled him out of the 4x100m relay. His personal best time then was 10.25.
"I am not really surprised at my improvement over the years. In 1996, I came into the Olympics with a best time of 10.25, the following year I got hurt. In 1998 I improved to 10.23 and last year I was again injured. This year I have been healthy. The key is just staying healthy," he emphasised.
Frater, who graduated from Wolmer's in 1997, thinks he can run under ten seconds if given the right conditions.
"If I run on the right day, in the right wind and the right competition - then I think it's possible. Right now I am 100 per cent ready and anything can happen," he said.
Frater had high praise for Stephen Francis, his coach since attending high school at Wolmer's. While attending school at Texas Christian University (TCU), Frater combines Francis' training programme with that of his TCU coach, Monte Stratton.
"Mr. Francis is a great coach, he is very sound technically. Working with him two weeks before the trials - I thought helped me a lot," Frater said.
Frater, who has one more year at TCU, said he is hoping to mix track and field with a degree in law.
By Merrick Andrews
Staff Reporter
