LONDON, England - If there's one thing The Bahamas has been blessed with over the past 10 years, as it relates to track and field, it's quartermilers. For Wesley Neymour, it's been quite an uphill battle getting to the Olympics, and he's savoring every moment of it.
Neymour wasn't even considered to be a part of the relay pool at the beginning of the year, but worked hard this season, persevered, and can now call himself an Olympian. After last year's World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Demetrius Pinder, Chris Brown and Ramon Miller were figured to be in the mix for this year's Olympic team, Michael Mathieu was being looked at as a possible fourth man, and runners like LaToy Williams, veteran Avard Moncur, the injury plagued Andretti Bain, and even youngster O'Jay Ferguson were considered to be in the running for alternate spots. Neymour made sure he wasn't going to be left out.
The lanky Bahamian ran a personal best time of 46.18 seconds at the BTC/Scotiabank Olympic Trials, ensuring that his name would be in the hat for Olympic team consideration. He finished fifth at those national championships, behind Pinder, Miller, Brown, and Andrae Williams.
The first six at any national championships are normally guaranteed spots on national teams for relay purposes, but two Bahamian quartermilers, Michael Mathieu and Avard Moncur, didn't run due to injuries. It was unsure if Mathieu would run the 400 meters (m) anyway, as he appears to be focusing on the half-lapper this year. Both he and Moncur had faster times than Neymour this year though, and after fitness tests, both were named to the Olympic team. Actually, to avoid any controversy, the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) through the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) ratified seven members, including Neymour, for the men's 4x400m relay.
"I'm just happy to be here," said Neymour. "It feels great to be a part of this team. I don't know if I'll get a chance to run, but if I do, I just want to go out there and give it my best shot. We're looking to do our best, and hopefully bring home the gold. I think the main thing for us is to make sure we get through the rounds. We might have to use the top three guys we have in the heats. If it comes down to that, then so be it. I just want us to get to the final, and hopefully win the gold."
Last year in Daegu, a critical coaching error left The Bahamas out of the World Championships final. The team was regarded as one of the favorites to win a medal, but for some reason, coaches decided on a line-up for the heats without The Bahamas' top three quartermilers. Neymour is just hoping for a chance to run. He wants to make the most out of his first Olympic experience, and prove that he belongs on the Olympic team.
"I know there's a chance that I won't get to run, but if my number is called to run the heats, then I'm definitely going to be prepared and do whatever it takes to get The Bahamas into the final," he said. "I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed and continue to hope for the best."
The athletics portion of the Olympic Games will get underway on Friday August 3. The heats of the men's 4x400m are scheduled for Thursday, August 9, and the final will be on Friday, August 10.
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