Cydonie shines in World Athletics Finals

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Cydonie shines in World Athletics Finals

Cydonie Mothersill took fourth place in the 200 metres
at the World Athletics finals.AFP PHOTO SVEN
NACKSTRAND

By Eugene Bonthuys

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

In her final race of the season, Cayman�s own Cydonie Mothersill represented the Cayman Islands in the IAAF World Athletics Final in the tiny principality of Monaco over the weekend.

As one of the top seven athletes in the latest IAAF World Rankings, Mothersill received an automatic invitation to the event that features only the very best athletes from around the globe. Currently ranked fourth in the world in the 200 metres, Mothersill was expected to hold her own in what must have been one of the best 200 metres fields assembled this year. This event would also allow Mothersill to improve on the eighth place she claimed in the World Athletics Championships, as she would be running against many of the same athletes.

As the starter�s gun went, Mothersill was the second last athlete out of the blocks. Not that being fast out of the blocks necessarily helps, as fastest athlete out of the blocks, Lucimar Aparecida de Moura of Brazil finished dead last in the event. However, Mothersill�s start did not seem to impact too negatively on her overall performance, as she ran on the shoulder of reigning World Champion Allyson Felix of the USA.

As the field hit the home straight, it was Christine Arron of France with the advantage, with Veronica Campbell of Jamaica just behind her. However, as she has done so often before, Felix surged in the last 50 metres to take the lead. Mothersill was not able to match the surge, and the top three finished slightly clear. Over the line it was Felix in first, followed by Campbell and Arron. Mothersill pipped Kim Gevaert of Belgium by 0.01 seconds to take fourth place on the line. The top five competitors finished in the order they appear on the latest World Rankings, giving an indication that, at least in the women�s 200 metres, the rankings most certainly deliver an accurate reflection of who is the best in the world.

For the Cayman Islands to be able to claim one of the top five 200 metres athletes in the world as its own is no small thing. With the Commonwealth Games coming up in March next year, it is also worth noting that the only Commonwealth athlete ranked above Mothersill on the current World Rankings is Jamaica�s Veronica Campbell. Not that one would want to place undue pressure on Mothersill, but Melbourne in March may well present her with her best opportunity yet to claim that illusive podium position at a major international competition.

However, with her last race of the season behind her, Mothersill finally gets to relax for a while, and focus on something other than athletics and competition. She will also get to come home for a while, and will spend ten days visiting with her family, and maybe having a look at some of the young local talent down at the track.

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