Douglas, Smythe expected to fly at New York indoor meet

Garth Smythe, coach of World Under-20 200-metre bronze medallist Shanoya Douglas, says the talented sprinter is poised to deliver another strong performance when she competes at this month’s East Coast International Showcase Indoor Meet in New York.

The meet, which will feature some of the best high school athletes in the region, will be held on January 24 at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island.

Douglas, who now represents Holland High School, after leaving Muschett last September, is slated to contest the 60 metres and 300 metres. Smythe’s son, Johan-Ramaldo Smythe, is also scheduled to compete, facing the starter in the 60 and 200 metres.

Douglas, 18, is the national junior indoor record holder in the 300 metres, having clocked 37.78 at the same meet last year.

“This will be the second time that she will be running the indoor and if I am not mistaken, she is national junior indoor record holder for the 300 metres event,” said Smythe.

“As it relates to her preparations this season, we are taking it slow because it is a long season, as this year is the World Under-20 Championships. So we are taking her preparations slowly and building it.”

“We are going to this meet to just wet her foot and to see where she is at, and see if she can lower that 300-metre mark. She is excited about this meet and she is excited about going there and bettering the mark that she set last year,” he added.

Smythe is also optimistic about the prospects of his son, who already holds the second-fastest indoor time among Jamaican juniors in the 200 metres.

“He has the second-fastest time indoors as a Jamaican junior and he is also looking to better that mark this year. His preparations are also going well, and so we have left everything in the man upstairs’s hands,” he added.

“We are expecting some good competition over there based on the entries that I have seen and athletes that are popping up, and so we are expecting some good times over there in New York,” Smythe stated.

With both athletes targeting major progress in a year highlighted by the World Under-20 Championships, Smythe stressed the importance of staying focused and grounded.

“This is a massive year for both of these athletes, so while we are very optimistic, it is important for us to stay humble, to stay grounded. and for them to just keep focused.”