The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Whether it was just in the ‘nick of time’ or he did it on time, sprinter Trevorvano Mackey knew sooner or later that he would be competing in his first Olympic Games. He even has a tattoo of the Olympic rings on his right arm since last year in preparation for this lifetime experience.

On the weekend before the July 8 deadline came to a close at the NACAC Under-23 Championships in Guanajuato, Mexico, Mackey clocked a personal best of 20.52 seconds to dip under the A qualifying standard of 20.55 to book his trip to London as a member of the 24-strong team that will represent the Bahamas.

“I just felt overwhelmed and excited because I actually put in the work all season,” he said. “I was just waiting for that big break to do it. I was just waiting to run that fast time.”

The time didn’t get him a spot on the medal dais after he ended up fourth. But it didn’t matter to Mackey. He came away from the trip as an Olympic qualifier.

“I didn’t put any pressure on myself. The only thing I was saying was either I do it or I don’t,” he said. “I knew I was healthy all season long, so I didn’t try to think about it. I just went out there and tried to execute my race.”

The former CV Bethel Senior High standout, now attending South Plains College, said there’s no greater feeling than to be known as an Olympian.

“For the first year coming out of high school, it actually feels good,” Mackey said. “I even got a little tattoo (with the Olympic ring). I got it from last summer because this is my dream. Every morning when I wake up, I look at the tattoo to keep me focused.”

The 20-year-old, who is preparing to leave today for a Bahamas Olympic Committee training camp in South London, said the goal is just to go to the Games and perform at his best.

“I want to PR (run personal best times) every round,” he said. “I have to focus on my lane and execute my race. Once I do that and I make it to the final, it could be anybody’s race. But my goal is to make it to the final and just PR and make the Bahamian public proud.”

The road to the final is going to be a tall order for Mackey, considering the fact that Jamaica has a 1-2 punch in world record holder and defending champion Usain Bolt and national champion Yohan Blake to contend with when he enters the field in the men’s 200.

“Coming out of high school, I used to look up to Bolt, but I don’t do it anymore because I have to literally run against this guy,” Mackey said. “I can’t focus on him. I have to focus on me because at the end of the day, he nor Blake is focusing on me. I have to go out there and do what I have to do.

“Through God, I just want to stay humble and go out there and perform at my best.”

Mackey, however, won’t be competing alone for the Bahamas in the half-lap race. He will be joined by Michael Mathieu, the quarter-miler, who has dropped down to the shorter race and has made a tremendous impact both on the national and international scene.

“Next season for the 100. It’s too steep right now,” said Mackey, who has ran a PR of 10.31 in the straight away race. “Those guys are running 10.0s and 9-point. Next year, I will just focus more on the 100. But actually, I’ve been focusing more on the 100 than the 200, but sometimes that just doesn’t work in your favour.

“I am just happy to qualify for the 200. That really shows me that the 200 is the race for me to run right now. Next year, I will focus a little more on the 100 because that is where my strength is. Maybe, I might have a better showing in the 100 than I did this year.”

And with this being his debut, Mackey said he’s using the trip as a gauge to prepare him for the 2016 Olympics.

“I want to get my focus up and learn from the senior athletes like Michael Mathieu, Derrick Atkins and even Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie because they’ve been there and done that,” Mackey stated. “The atmosphere should help me a lot because I can get to see how they carry on and move around so that I can carry on this Bahamian trend in track and field.”

While here for a couple days to relax and continue his training before he leaves for London today, Mackey said if there’s anything he’s eager about when he gets to the Games is to see and maybe get to watch Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant as he competes for the American men’s basketball team.

“I’m a Laker fan,” he said. “I want to see him and the American team play.”

But at the same time, Mackey knows that he has his work cut out for him and he’s not going to let anything deter him from his ultimate goal of representing the Bahamas to the best of his ability in the men’s 200 metres in his first Olympic experience.