Richards-Ross

World 400-metres champion Sanya Richards-Ross is not perturbed by her average showing at the JN Jamaica International Invitational last weekend, although admitting that it could be some time before she rediscovers her best form.

Richards, who normally performs well at the meet, could only manage a fifth-place finish in 51.62 seconds behind winner Novlene Williams-Mills (50.71), Rosemarie White (51.15) and Kaliese Spencer (51.30) and compatriot Natasha Hastings (51.30). The result was Richards-Ross' lowest finish in a grand prix race since 2003.

"My performance was okay but after taking a year off, it is going to take some time for me to get back in good shape. Naturally, it is going to take some time for me to get back but I am not worried", she said.

Richards-Ross was running her second individual 400-metres race for the season and believes there is plenty time left to improve.

"It is going to be a long season and we will see where everyone will be at crunch time," she said. The athlete could, however, have more on her plate this season as she contemplates doubling, with the 200m and 400m.

"The good thing is that I have a bye in the 400 metres, being the defending champion, and at the USA Trials, I will be doing the 200 metres. I am thinking about doing both events this year and the 200 metres will do my speed some good," she added.

challenge

With teammate Allyson Felix, the World 200m Champion and Veronica Campbell-Brown the Olympic Champion Richards-Ross is under no impression that taking up the challenge of the 200m distance will be easy.

"The 200 metres will be very tough as both Jamaica and the United States have quality people in this event."

Richards-Ross was also not surprised by the performances of the Jamaicans in the 400 metres at last week's meet.

"No, I am not surprised because people like Rosemarie, Shericka and Novlene, I have competed with for the past six years and (they) have been doing well.

"Kaliese has done well in the 400-metres hurdles and is now doing well in the flat 400 metres, and it was good to see them perform well before their home crowd," she added.

'It is going to be a long season and we will see where everyone will be at crunch time.'