Reigning queen preps to defend
By DENEZ JONES, NG Sports Reporter
Reigning Women’s Olympic and World 400 Meter Champion Tonique Williams-Darling, dropped from number one to the seventh spot on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Rankings list this year, but heading into 2007 she’s getting primed to defend her World Title.
“I feel good - ya know, it’s that time of the season when you’re putting out a lot of volume, and so I feel like I am strong at this point, which is what I’m really working on. My coach said that I looked pretty strong before I left (Virginia), and I feel like I’m right on pace for where I’m supposed to be next year,” said Williams-Darling during a conversation yesterday.
It was The Nassau Guardian Sport’s luck, that we ran into Williams-Darling, and her husband Dennis Darling, who’s also been a strong quarter-miler on the Men’s National 4x400 Meter Relay squad within the last 10 years. The two were working out on the cricket grounds of Haynes Oval at Fort Charlotte yesterday morning, when most athletes visiting home for Christmas are probably trying to relax.
During a previous interview, Williams-Darling admitted that she was somewhat disappointed with her performances over the season. She said that scheduling was a major factor in her not being able to peak when she should’ve this year, and trying to take care of other personal business also posed challenges for her during this year’s outdoor track and field season.
So, how hard will it be for the nation’s ‘Golden Girl’ to get back on top of the world, and is she doing anything differently in her training this year? “You know, it’s really kind of early to tell how things are changing,” Williams-Darling, began in her response. “Yes - coach & I have discussed changing some things, because he feels like we’ve been doing basically the same program for the last four years. So, I think with such a major championship coming up this year, he wants to do something that really challenges me, both mentally and physically.”
Considering that she has only been back in training for about four weeks, it may be just a bit premature to determine how well she will perform when the next season opens-up in a few months. Also, Williams-Darling is not taking things for granted, she knows that the rest of the world are coming for her Olympic and World Championship crowns.
“For the upcoming year, it being my first title that I defend, I just feel like there’s always some kind of motivation I could find. In 2008, there’ll be defending the Olympic title. Now, will I have motivation in 2009? You know, that’s another story, cause even then I’ll have to find another goal, and a challenge,” said Williams-Darling.