John Howard: “Too much pressure to break the (National) record”

John Howard, in blue outfit, psyching himself before his race

London (August 4, 2012): Just outside the media mixed zone minutes after his race, John Howard expressed dissatisfaction about his performance in the third heat of the men’s 100 meters preliminary round.

Howard ran 11.05 seconds in 5^th place trailing four other runners in a race with a winning time of 10.55 by Berenger Aymard Bosse of the Central African Republic. Elama Fa’atonu of Amarican Samoa came in last but set his best time ever of 11.48 in the process.

“I was next to the fastest guy in our heat. I thought that would help me lower my time”, Howard said before he commended on his own start, which has been the sprinter’s most difficult area.

“There was too much pressure on my mind. I wanted so much to break my personal best”, Howard said with displease, as he was aware of the hope and expectations his country-men and women quietly hold for him.  

Howard’s fastest time of 10.83 (FSM National Record) was set during the Athens Olympics eight years ago. Thereafter, Howard’s results at other meets have been lingering around 11.2.

Howard’s was the fastest time among the nine Oceania sprinters in the prelims, closely followed by Palau’s Rodman Teltull with 11.06.

The Guam-based FSM sprinter has not had any serious competitions leading to the Olympic Games like most established sprinters do to peak in time physically and mentally.

The FSM National Olympic Committee sent most of its athletes including John Howard to a 6-weeks pre-Olympic camp in Liverpool, England to “fine-tune” for London.

(Post Competition Interview with John Howard)