Douglas aims to bounce back at world championships
5:06pm Tuesday 23rd August 2011 in Athletics
Montell Douglas. SPORTSBEAT.
Tom Reynolds
BLACKHEATH & Bromley AC’s Montell Douglas has vowed to banish the disappointment of her individual heartache by helping bring about collective glory at this week’s world championships.
After yet another injury-plagued season – Douglas has only had two months injury free in 2011 – the 25-year-old missed out on an individual 100m berth for the trip to South Korea.
That disappointment continued an all-too familiar trend for the uber-talented sprinter, who holds the British 100m record and has missed an individual berth at the world championships in 2009 and last year's European championships.
But while admitting the obvious frustration, Douglas believes there can be a silver lining in South Korea.
The Aviva GB&NI relay squad is much the same – Douglas included – as those who finished fourth at the 2007 world championships and the 25-year-old believes a medal is well within reach.
“When I think of Osaka in 2007 that is a champs that we ran well in and came fourth and I know things have moved on since then,” said Douglas.
“If we had a top four chances before with a similar team and things have moved on so much more since then I don’t see why we can’t be in the mix.
“We can definitely challenge for a medal I think because that is where we are at. We want to prove that we are world class and I think world class you want to be top three at least and to me it’s very realistic with a much stronger team.
“I am one of my worst critics so I don’t care that I have been through lots of injuries. I feel like I am well good enough to be in the mix for an individual spot and that I am one of the best sprinters in the country and so it was disappointing to miss out.
“But now I am here I am really focused and thinking that I need to make sure I am because I am part of the team.”
Douglas is currently preparing for the world championships in the heat and humidity of Ulsan, South Korea, at a training camp funded by Aviva, supporters of British athletes since 1999.
And while Daegu is the focus for now, Douglas is already thinking about setting the record straight on home soil at London 2012.
“Last time I did the individual it was 2008 and I haven’t done it since then just a lot of relays and so 2012 has to be my year,” she added.
“I don’t want that to be next year, I want to go in the individuals. “It’s not like the 4x100 girls have been getting medals every year and so I have been coming back with medals and still getting lottery funding and things like that.”
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