Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
McFarlane: I have nothing to prepare before the Commonwealth Games and that's the problem. - FILE
OLYMPIC 400M hurdles silver medallist Danny McFarlane believes the timing of the 2005 Commonwealth Games is bad for 400 hurdlers.
McFarlane, who finished behind Felix Sanchez at the Athens Games, said the timing is bad because there are no warm-up meets for a 400m hurdler.
"I have nothing to prepare before the Commonwealth Games and that's the problem. I am going to have to try and do time trials. I might find one or two races because at the time of the year, for a hurdler you can't find races (400m hurdles).
"It's bad, especially knowing that I am not the cleanest of hurdlers," said the former national champion.
However, he admits working on his technique with a coach in the United States.
"The faster stuff is going to be after Commonwealth, faster stuff meaning technical. I am technically sound right now going over the hurdles, but when the pace quickens I have problems, twisting all over the place, and that's what we're working on."
Despite the handicap of not being able to properly prepare with warm-up runs, McFarlane, a one-time 400m specialist, said:
"I'm looking forward to it. We all know it's a bad spot, but I have to just go in and do it," McFarlane told The Gleaner.
"I was hoping and praying it was later down in the year, but we have no control over that right now ...".
Because he has less time to prepare for the Games, McFarlane says he has changed his programme.
"I have to be cutting some of my background training in order to get ready, but I can't neglect all of that because for the rest of the year I'll be in trouble."
He added: "I am going to wait until it gets a little closer to gear up up."
McFarlane missed the second half of last season with a niggling injury, but he said that's behind him now.
"I am injury basically free right now ... I just have a little problem from last year when I hit the hurdle.
"It kind of messed up the outside of my knee but I still can compete. From time to time it still gives me problems, but I think once I am physically fit and I'm mentally ready, I can compete," explained McFarlane.
He also said the competition is be tight in Australia. "The South Africans always run fast that time of the year, and I talk about real fast, like 48.0, and I get a medal with 48.1 at the Olympic so that will tell you the type of competition."
