Spring hurdler Megan Simmonds will be out to prove detractors wrong and in the process get some respect, for the rest of her stay at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. This she said came from a disparaging comment that she heard about Jamaica’s current hurdlers.
After placing second in her heat on Tuesday, she said, “I remember this morning somebody saying that the future Jamaican hurdlers are really that good as Brigitte and Deloreen and stuff like that, but we are here to show them that that’s not true. We are coming, we are ready, we are poised and we think we are going to be as good or better.”
The pint-sized athlete started her quest to show her worth, by doing 12.81 seconds in her heat, to finish behind Moscow 2013 World Championships winner Brianna Rollins of the United States of America, who did 12.54. Sandra Gomis of Frances was third in 13.04.
Simmonds, however, believes that she did not execute her race properly and will be looking to correct this for the semifinals and possible the final, as she looks to battle the best in the world.
“I think I could have focussed a tad bit more in the race, but I have semifinals to correct that and hopefully God’s willing I will get it right. I feel like I am in form and in shape to give them a good battle. I am super confident. My coach is Stephen Francis and I serve one true living God.
“I had to be holding back tears in the warm up area because I have been through a lot. To be here finally and for God to give me the opportunity to come out here, for me to remain faithful to God so that he could bring me to the place where he wanted me to be, it is really emotional,” she said.
Simmonds believes getting a top flight competitor as Rollins in her heat will help her as the rounds progress.
“I was happy she was in my heat because you wouldn’t want to just run up on somebody like that in the final. So I got a feel of her in the heats so I will be more comfortable if I get her in the semis or somebody else like her in the semis and in the final. So I am happy,” she said.
