The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After sitting on the sidelines and watching the men’s 4 x 100 metre relay team lower the national record at the Central American and Caribbean Championships, Warren Fraser said he’s eager to get back on the track and compete with the team at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships.

Fraser, a 2013 graduate of Clement University, was named to the CAC team that represented the Bahamas in Mexico last month, but he didn’t get to compete. He is named to the team for the worlds in Moscow, Russia, next month and he’s hoping that he will get a chance to compete. The meet starts on August 10.

“I’m just glad that I made it back-to-back to two world championships,” said Fraser, who missed out on running the qualifying times in both the 100 and 200 metres. “I’m just going home sleeping and coming back out to train. I have one thing on my mind and that is to get the team into the final and try to medal.”

The 22-year-old speedster from the talented Fraser family has had a difficult transition from college to the professional circuit. But he’s confident that once he can display his skills at the worlds, he knows that he can get to the next level in his young and flourishing career.

“I ran in the Senior CAC meet. That went okay. I’m just glad that I didn’t get hurt because I’ve been hurt all year,” said Fraser, who finished eighth in the 100 metres in 10.30 after qualifying with the fifth fastest time of 10.19.

“So I think everything is coming around. I’m just looking forward to next year. I will be making a lot of decisions after the worlds. My performance at worlds will definitely help me in making my decisions for next year. I want to get on the pro circuit. I will get on the pro circuit.”

At the world’s, Fraser said he’s gearing up to run as fast as he can to help the team succeed.

“I’m just going to kill my legs plain and simple. I’m not playing with anybody,” he said. “I’m not going to play with anybody. I am just going to try and kill it so we can be on top. I’m not worrying about anybody who we compete against.”

Having had four successful years in which he ended up running personal best times of 10.18 in the 100 and 20.85 in the 200, both last year, Fraser said he feels he has gained the necessary experience to help propel him on the international circuit.

“College helped me out with a lot of experience, travelling and competing,” Fraser said. “I just think that college will definitely give me the drive because I want to establish myself. and get on the pro circuit.”

Fraser will be a part of the relay pool for the 4 x 100 relay that includes Adrian Griffith, Jamial Rolle, Trevorvano Mackey and Shavez Hart that broke the national record twice, first in the heats with 38.92 and then in the final with 38.77.

“Right now, we are No.7 on the IAAF list, so I think we will definitely make the final,” Fraser said. “We haven’t had a chance to do that many practices, but with the team that we have, we should be in the final.”

Having had a chance to run on relay teams for the Tigers at Clemson, Fraser said it’s important for the team to get together so that they can develop some type of chemistry and be a cohesive unit on the track.

“The more we can practice, the less we will have to worry,” he said. “We can trust everybody because we will be used to each other,” he said. “It would have been great if we had a few meets to run in overseas to keep us going and see where we’re at.

“I guess when we get over there (in Moscow), we will just have to practice a lot and see how best we can put the team together. But I’m confident that the coaching staff will do what is best and put the best team out there to run.”

And after missing out on the opportunity to run in Mexico, Fraser is just hoping that he will hear his name called to compete in Russia.