MORGAN ENJOYS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Dec 14, 2008 Sports

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– takes aim at 2009 Caribbean GamesBy Edison Jefford
Renowned female distance athlete, Alika Morgan has enjoyed another successful sojourn both locally and internationally this year with her most recent pole position in the annual Run Barbados 10km Road Race last weekend.

In a recent interview with Kaieteur Sport, the top athlete that has literally discovered gold this year said that she has worked hard all year and a hamstring strain in Barbados last weekend prevented a second place finish.

“Being my last event of the year, I worked very hard and felt very much prepared for this competition in Barbados. But along the race at about the 8km mark, I developed a hamstring injury,” she said in a statement.

Morgan eventually finished third in the race but was the first Caribbean woman to go past the finish line. At the time of the hamstring strain, the athlete was precariously placed at second with just 2km left in the race.
“Because of the injury, I was forced to slow my pace down to jogging in an effort to just finish the race,” Morgan stated, adding that she was unable to participate in the Run Barbados half marathon the following day.

The leading female athlete was satisfied with the fact that she bettered her performance in the 10km race where she placed fourth last year but was obviously frustrated over not being able to compete in the half marathon.

“Judging from the performances of the athletes who took part in the [Run Barbados] half marathon, I knew I would have been able to win that race in a better time than the winner,” Morgan boasted on Friday.

She told this newspaper that she is thoroughly contented with her performances this year after being unbeaten at the 5km, 10km and half marathon events at both the senior and junior levels here and overseas.

“I had good performances this year. I had enough competitions and no other Caribbean athlete bettered me in spite competing at the senior level even though I am a junior athlete,” the 18–year–old continued.

The surprisingly articulate Morgan pointed to her mental strength and focus on winning when asked what she thinks has led to her dominant performances. She added that she approaches every race with an attitude to win.

“I go out to do my best. I am already focusing on the Junior Carifta and Caribbean Games for 2009 and I know that I have what it takes to make whatever qualification standards,” the Caribbean champion athlete declared.

Morgan thanked her coach Leslie Black; manager Avril Black; training partners, sponsors Vic Insanally, Terry Holder, GT&T and Cops Security for maintaining their unwavering support for her budding athletics career.

Alika Morgan’s 2008 Performance Profile

January
Event: Suriname 10km Road Race
Position: First Place
Time: 37:40.00
Event: National Cross Country Championships
Position: First Place
Time: 18:39

February
Meet: AAG Developmental Meet
Event: 3000m
Position: First Place
Time: 11:26

March
Meet: Carifta Games trials
Events: 1500m and 3000m
Positions: First Place
Times: 5:26 and 11:09
Meet: National Youth and Junior Championships
Events: 800m, 1500m and 3000m
Positions: First Place
Times: 2:36, 5:20 and 10:59
Meet: Junior Carifta Games (St. Kitts)
Events: 1500m and 3000m
Positions: Third Place (1500m) and Second Place (3000m)
Times: 4:47 and 10:15

April
Meet: Inter–Guiana Games Trials
Events: 800m, 1500m and 3000m
Positions: First Place
Times: 2:27, 5:26 and 11:09
Meet: President’s Invitational Grand Prix
Event: 3000m
Position: First Place
Time: 11:46.06

May
Meet: IAAF World Athletics Day
Event: 1500m
Position: First Place
Time: 5:50
Meet: Hampton Games (Trinidad and Tobago)
Events: 1500m and 3000m
Positions: Second Place (1500m) and First Place (3000m)
Times: 4:56 and 11:02

July
Meet: Caricom 10km Road Race (Antigua and Barbuda)
Positions: First Place (Overall Female and Junior)
Time: 38:19
Meet: Olympic Day Run
Position: First Place

August
Attended Beijing Olympic Games Youth Camp in China

September
Meet: Inter–School Championships
Events: 800m, 1500m and 3000m
Positions: First Place

October
Meet: South American 10km Road Race Trials
Position: First Place
Meet: First Stag–South American 10km Road Race Classic (Suriname)
Positions: First Place (Senior and Junior)
Meet: Second Stage–South American 10km Road Race Classic
Positions: First Place (Junior) and Second Place (Senior)
Meet: Inter–Branch School Championships
Events: 800m, 1500m and 3000m
Positions: First Place

November
Meet: UWI Half Marathon (Trinidad and Tobago)
Positions: First Place (Junior and Senior)
Time: 1:27.00
Meet: Suriname Marathon
Positions: First (Junior and Senior)
Meet: National Schools’ Championships
Event: 10km Road Race
Position: First Place
Time: 40:06

December 
Meet: Run Barbados 10km Road Race
Positions: First Place (Junior) and Third Place (Senior)

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