Raymond Graham, Freelance Writer
SPENCER
HE IS one of the hardest persons to get an interview with, but Stephen Francis, the man in charge of the crack MVP Track Club and also the head coach of the University of Technology, was in a good mood when this reporter caught up with him last weekend at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.
Francis, coach of the world's fastest man, Asafa Powell, has a host of highly-ranked athletes under his care. All of his athletes are trained locally and when a national team is selected, whether junior or senior, he gets a number of selections. Under his guidance many athletes have shown sharp improvement, dropping their personal records dramatically. The likes of Sherika Williams, Kaliese Spencer and Nesta Carter easily come to mind.
Spencer, recently became the second fastest woman in the world in the 400 metres when she recorded a personal best 50.55 seconds to win in California.
"I think this a break-out year for some of my athletes, including Spencer and Carter, because they have come of age," said Francis.. Francis was asked if he was surprised by Spencer's time.
"Spencer is the most talented athlete I have ever coached and she will run much faster this year," he said. It was a strong statement from a man who has coached the likes of Powell, Sherone Simpson, Michael Frater and Brigitte Foster-Hylton, athletes who have won medals at the highest level.
Promising athlete
Spencer, a gold medallist over 400m hurdles at the World Junior Championships two years ago in Beijing, has always looked to be one for the future. Last year, the 20-year-old was runner up in the event to Melaine Walker at the National Championships.
Asked if he was giving her a lot of 400m races this time around in preparation for her 400m hurdles, Francis dropped a bombshell.
Lazy and indisciplined
"Kaliese will not be running the 400m hurdles this year because since her victory in Beijing she has become very lazy and indisciplined in her training as there is not much challenge for her in this event. Only Walker and Nickeisha Wilson are her dangers.
"I ignored her for most of last year and that is the reason why her performance fell. We did not take her to Europe with the other members of the group and I did not give her a training programme,'' he said.
Francis stated that he changed her event because there are many 400m runners vying for places on the national team and for her to be successful she had to work much harder and there has been a change since.
"Kaliese's success the previous year clouded her views of the sport. Her attitude to training and her behaviour were very disappointing. Because she felt left out she has turned things around this year and now she has a more positive approach,'' he said.
The outspoken coach thinks that come the end of June his athletes will dominate the top two spots in the women's 400m event at the National Championships.
Good progress
"Despite the presence of last year's 400m champion, Novlene Williams, for whom I have a lot of respect, I do not think she will defeat either Kaliese or Sherika. I expect to run one-two here,'' he said.
Francis was upbeat about the progress of Sherika Williams.
"Sherika is on a different programme this year and by the time the championships come around she will be ready. At the Mount Sac Relays she ran a 50.6 relay leg out of the blocks on their winning 4x400m team.
"If both Sherika and Kaliese continue the way they are going I expect them to be medal contenders in Beijing."
Turning to the progress of his top hurdler, Foster-Hylton, who missed the entire season last year due to injury, Francis said he was pleased with her 13.1 clocking at Mt Sac.
"Historically, Brigitte does not run fast unless there are fast people in the race. She has always opened up in March like that and if it should take her 12.6 to win she will do so. After missing the past year she is finally getting her confidence back and she will be back on top of her game very soon.''
TOMORROW: Francis speaks about the JAAA, Asafa Powell, the Jamaica International Invitational meet and drugs.
