Two-time Olympic Medalist Dawn Harper Nelson (USA) fresh from her season best of 12.81 at the at the Cayman Invitational on Wednesday, is now ready for the Meeting International Region Guadeloupe.
On Saturday, 10 May, Harper Nelson will compete in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, where she has race two times, 2011 (12.74) and 2012 (12.71), in her career, placing first each time.
Harper Nelson said, “Because I traveled from the Cayman Islands to Guadeloupe it will really be about paying attention to my body and seeing how I feel. I am also crossing my fingers for good weather. Both times I ran in Guadeloupe, it rained, rained, and rained, then stopped literally right before our race. I would like it to stay dry for the warm-up and the race.”
“I always enjoy myself in Guadeloupe, because I am a beach person. The hotel is on the water, and the event is highly competitive. It will be good to reconnect with the fans.”
In Cayman, Harper Nelson beat the eight woman field with a time of 12.81, with Jamaica’s Andrea Bliss (13.15) and Latoya Greaves (13.25) coming in second and third and Natasha Ruddock (13.44) in sixth place. Rounding out the field in fifth place was Canada’s Phelicia George (13.38), seventh Nigeria’s Nicole Denby (13.39), and eighth Virginia Crawford (13.86) for USA.
“It was really exciting to compete at the Cayman Invitational for the first time in front of this type of excited crowd,” said an elated Harper Nelson.
The Cayman Invitational marks the second race of the 2014 season for Harper Nelson, but the first time competing at the two year-old meet. She definitely bounced back from the nervy start at Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa two weeks ago where she placed seventh.
“This race was really about focusing on me and executing; I think I did that tonight. I’m happy with the win and happy to walk away healthy. This meet was everything I thought it would be; fun!”
