media_artricles :: 2015

Reyare's second chance

“I look back at my career, and the only regret I have was not making Olympics 2008.”

Reyare Thomas was just 20 at the time, and was extremely disappointed to not be part of the Trinidad and Tobago team for the Beijing Games. But she battled on, and was selected on the women's 4x100 metres relay squad for the 2012 London Olympics.

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Credit: Videographer/ Photos Anisto Alves
Reporter: Kwame Laurence
Music: Destiny's Child - Ms Independent

Thomas is now 27, and though things have unfolded seven years later than planned, she will compete in the Chinese capital after all. The Enterprise sprinter is in Beijing for the August 22-30 IAAF World Championships.

Thomas is enjoying the season of her life, recording personal best times in the 100m and 200m events. On June 27, she clocked 11.22 seconds for women's 100m bronze at the NGC-Sagicor National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Open Championships. And a fortnight later, she produced her first-ever legal sub-23 half-lap run, stopping the clock at 22.82 seconds to strike gold at the Falcons Invitational Last Chance meet.

“What has accounted for my success,” Thomas tells the Express, “is my focus on and off the track. With the death of our coach that passed away in 2013, it stepped up my game to really accomplish something great in track and field.”

Thomas was a member of the Neon Trackers Athletic Club, and trained under the guidance of Ian Goddard, coach and father figure to many athletes in central Trinidad before his death.

Now a member of the Abilene Wildcats Athletic Club, Thomas will run in an individual event at a major global meet for the first time in her career at the Beijing Worlds.

“I want to focus on the 200 for Beijing. I think that's my stronger event. I just run the hundred because I really don't feel like running 400 metres,” she quipped. “The lactic (acid) is just different.

“My goals for Beijing are just to lower my times and try to make it through every round. I know the main focus is making the final, get on the podium, but for me making it through every round is a guarantee that a medal might happen.

“I'm trying to go at least 22-mid, like really lower that standard and see what I can do before the season's done so I know what approach to have for next season.”

Thomas is part of a strong World Championship 4x100m squad. The other sprinters selected for relay duty are Kelly-Ann Baptiste, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Semoy Hackett, Khalifa St Fort and Kamaria Durant.

“I assess our chances,” says Thomas, “as being great. Before, it was me, Michelle-Lee, Kai (Selvon) and Kamaria, and we flew the Trinidad and Tobago flag high. With the addition of Kelly-Ann, Semoy, and Khalifa being a part of it, it really and truly strengthens the women's 4x1. We got a stronger force, so we know we can go out there and battle with the world's best.”

With T&T's new-found depth in the women's sprint relay, competition for a spot in the final four will be tough. Thomas welcomes the challenge.

“Before, Trinidad and Tobago had a solid four, and that was the top four no matter what. But now, we could actually rest people through the rounds and really pull out the best quartet for the final.”

Thomas says Baptiste, Ahye and shot putter Cleopatra Borel are well-positioned to make the country proud at Beijing 2015.

“The women have a possibility of medalling this year. Kelly-Ann has medalled already at World Championships, Michelle-Lee is finding herself...Cleo's just killing it this whole season, so I think everybody's going with a mindset of we want to bring back a medal for Trinidad and Tobago.”

Borel and Baptiste competed at last month's Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada. Ahye, however, was recovering from injury and did not travel to Toronto. Borel captured shot put gold at the hemispheric meet. Baptiste, meanwhile, was among the favourites in the 100m dash, but finished fifth in the final.

Thomas progressed to the Pan Am Games 200m championship race. She finished seventh in the final in 23.32 seconds.

“I went out there,” Thomas explains, “wanting to go through every round, make it to semis, make it to the final. But when I made it to the final I kind of psyched out myself. But it's just a growing experience, so it's time to get over it and get ready for the next upcoming meet.”

Beijing 2015 is more than just another upcoming meet. For Thomas, the global track and field championship represents an opportunity to make up for the pain of missing out on the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

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