Marvin Watts MARVIN Watts is a man on a mission. His mission is to erase the 24-year-old record of 1:45.20 in the 800 metres set by Seymour Newman.
Since Newman, the country has experienced a dearth of talent in the half mile but Watts, the sole 800 metres runner on Jamaica's Olympic team, is hoping to turn this around in Australia this summer.
Watts, a former St. George's College student, ran well at the national Championships in July to hold off Mario Watson and book his place to Sydney. Though his time only met the B standard Watts has his eyes set on advancing to the finals of his favourite event.
"I would be really happy if I also make the final. That would be a great accomplishment for me," said Watts whose twin brother Mario just failed to qualify for the Olympics as well after hitting a hurdle in the 400m hurdles and finishing fourth.
Marvin Watts has a personal best of 1:46.57, established at the US Olympic track and field qualifier in June earlier this year. This time is far inferior to the 1:43s-44s done on a consistent basis by the North and East Africans and Europeans who dominate the two-lap event.
Despite this, Watts believes he still has the potential to qualify for the semi-finals, based on the schedule of the event and his front running tactics.
"I think they only have three rounds of the 800m, the heats, semi-finals and final. I am going to run hard in the first round, I am not going to take any chances," added Watts, who graduated from South Carolina University in 1997 with a BSc. degree in Business Management and Marketing.
"I am not going to lag in the back, I am planning to run in the top three because I want my heat to be a fast race, so as to guarantee me a place in the semi-finals," said the athlete who won the Class 1 title in 1:51.13 at the Boys' Athletic Championships in 1994.
Watts won the 800m title at the National Olympic Trials with a front-running effort of 1:47.21.
There was a time when he felt frustrated because he was not improving his times.
His personal best time once stood at 1:47.73 set in 1997. It took him over two years to go under that mark when he clocked 1:47.09 at the Sea Ray Relays earlier this year. He followed that up with 1:46.57 at the US Olympic qualifier in North Carolina.
He soon found out that he was not obtaining the right training from his college cross country coach, Andrew Allden of the University of South Carolina.
"I decided to give it another try that season (in 1998). I realised it was my training which was the concern. I also realised I was only sticking to one type of training," explained Watts.
According to Watts, coach Allden had him do a lot of strength and endurance training, while neglecting much of the speed workouts.
Watts then decided to do some additional speed training with the sprint coach at the college.
In 1998, he made the national senior team for the first time, after finishing second at the National Trials in 1:49.07, behind winner Alex Morgan (1:48.88).
At the 18th Central American and Caribbean Championships in Maracaibo, Venezuela, in August of '98, he made the final of the 800m where he fell with 200m to go while in second place and finished last in 2:00.77.
The Commonwealth Games was a lot better. He finished second in the heats (1:49.19) to advance to the semi-finals where he placed sixth in 1:48.40, after running among the leaders approaching the last bend.
"Right now I am 90 per cent fit. I just need to go out hard with the leaders in Sydney and I will be in the semi-finals," said Watts who was doing speed training with noted sprint coach Glen Mills.
By Merrick Andrews
Staff Reporter
