Log In

Reset Password
BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Houston clocks 200m PB

Bermuda's Tre Houston (left) with Great Britain sprinter Dwain Chambers. Houston set a new personal best in the 200 metres at the Pan Am Games.

Bermuda sprinter Tre Houston set another personal best at the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico after running his fastest 200 metre time in 20.91 seconds.Houston, who also ran a 100m PB in 10.40 earlier this week, missed out on qualifying for yesterday’s medal race after finishing seventh in Wednesday’s 200 semi-finals.The UK-based athlete believes the technical adjustments he made prior to the semis enabled him to improve on his heat time of 21.04, which equalled his previous personal best.“I did great job. I wanted a PB in the first round but I ended up equalling my PB which was 21.04 seconds and also my fastest time of the year,” said Houston, who is hoping to qualify for next year’s London Olympics.“I made a few technical changes so I could run faster in the semi and I had my race plan ready. I went into the race mentally strong and came out with the right outcome and a PB.”In the 100 metres, Houston, who is trained by top UK sprint coach Tony Lester, fell victim of the new false start rule after being disqualified for jumping the gun in the penultimate round.Meanwhile, Houston’s team-mate, Shianne Smith, finished tenth in the heptathlon with 5113 points.Despite setting a new national record in the 100 metres hurdles in a time of 14.50 and running her fastest 800 metres time (2:15.37), Smith was disappointed with her overall performance.“I’m not happy with the end result. However, on a positive note I started off well in the hurdles with a personal best and ended well winning the 800,” said Smith.Donna Watson, president of Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA), said she was satisfied with both athletes’ displays and believes Houston is on track to qualify for the Olympics.“I’m most pleased with Tre’s 200 metres as I feel that’s his best event and one he has the best chance to qualify for the Olympics,” she said.“Breaking the barrier of 21 seconds is a big accomplishment. His time of 20.91 has him on schedule for 20.65 which is the ‘B’ standard for the Olympics. This is a big confidence builder for him and he can now go back to England and train and prepare for next season.”Watson admitted she had hoped Smith would have accumulated more points in the heptathlon.“I’m okay with Shianne’s personal bests in the 100 metres hurdles and the 800 but a bit disappointed with her overall score in the heptathlon,” said Watson.“I feel some of her other events were not as good as they should have been, therefore this did not help to give her an overall better score.“We have to keep in mind though that this is really off-season for the athletes and this should give her a good gauge of what she needs to work on to make the Olympic standard.”