Sprint queen Cydonie Mothersill’s
exceptional form continues to put her in good stead for a medal at the
Commonwealth Games in India next month.
Mothersill claimed another two
medals last weekend, this time at the Continental Cup in Split, Croatia, which
replaces the IAAF World Cup in Athletics, which was last staged in 2006.
Cayman’s brilliant speedster was
third in the women’s 200 metres, contributing valuable points to the Americas
team. Aleksandra Fedoriva contributed to Team Europe’s overall victory as she
led a one-two in the 200m. Fedoriva finished in 22.86 seconds with Elizaveta
Bryzhina of Ukraine over half a second behind in second.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly-Ann
Baptiste scorched the track in 11.05 seconds to capture the women’s 100m title.
Baptiste returned to the track to
anchor a multi-national Americas team to gold in the women’s 4x100m relay.
Mothersill ran the leadoff leg, handing the baton to Bahamian Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie.
Shalonda Solomon of the US performed third leg duties, getting the stick safely
to Baptiste, who completed the victory in 43.07 seconds. Even more impressive
was the fact that they dusted the more cohesive nation teams of Ukraine
(running for Europe) and Japan (running for Asia/Pacific).
Mothersill’s 200m form has been
brilliant this summer. Victory came in Cork, Ireland (3 July), then in
Rethynmo, Greece (7 July) and most recently at the Central American and
Caribbean Games in Mayaguez, Mexico (28 July).
Praising her performance, Minister
of Sport Mark Scotland said: “Cydonie is a tremendous role model for our
younger athletes. She proves that hard work, determination, and perseverance
can indeed take you to the top. My ministry is proud to have her as one of our
elite athletes, offering her the opportunity to pursue her exceptional talent.
In turn we all benefit from seeing Cayman so ably represented on the world
stage.”
Mothersill, 32, is one of five
local athletes who have been signed up for the Cayman Islands Elite Athlete
Status Programme. Under this initiative, athletes contract with the Cayman
Islands Government to maintain a certain level of competition and participate,
whenever possible, in promoting sports in the Cayman Islands. They are also
expected to act as athletic ambassadors when and wherever they compete.
In return, the athletes receive
financial support to assist them in their training and development.
Cayman’s other elite athletes are
sprinter Ronald Forbes, boxer Charles Whittaker, swimmer Shaune Fraser and
hammer thrower Michael Letterlough.