Jelks Runs Consistently Well for 100m Races In Europe
Jelks Runs Consistently Well for 100m Races In Europe
Five races in 10 days shows US sprinter is true professional
Stockholm - July 22, 2008
World Express Athletic Management sprinter Mark Jelks has returned home to the US after enjoying a successful European Tour. Jelks who posted a career best of :9.99 for the 100 meters at the US Olympic Trials in June this year traveled to Europe intent on showing his abilties as one of the world’s best short sprinters. While his training mate Ivory Williams stayed home to recover from the early racing season and the always tough 4-rounds of the 100m event at the US Trials; Jelks welcomed all challenges and travel extensively throughout Europe looking for them.
World Express can now boast two sub :10.00 secs 100 meter sprinters giving them a great 1-2 punch in the heavy weight battles of the 100m event: Ivory Williams (:9.94) and Mark Jelks (:9.99).
Jelks arrived in Rome on July 9th for the Golden Gala meeting on 11-July and the long overseas flight obviously affected his race that weekend. Undaunted, Jelks then traveled to Athens Greece on 13-July for the Athens Grand Prix. He placed 3rd in Athens (:10.19) to exact some measure of revenge over some of his competitiors in Rome. The next day 14-July, Jelks flew to Crete for the EAA meeting in Rethymno and again placed 3rd in the 100m final again with a :10.19 clocking. Two days later in Lucerne Switzerland, Jelks dominated his competition and was victorious in :10.17. Then the next day, Jelks traveled to the city of lights in Paris France and again placed 3rd at the Gaz de France Golden League meeting. That is 5 races in 10 days with only 1-2 days recovery and travel. Clearly Jelks has proven his professionalism by dealing with the travel, hotel stays, food and stress but still performing well in his races. The summary is as follows:
Wed 9-Jul: Arrival in Europe from US
Fri 11-Jul: Rome Golden Gala - :10.30
Sun 13-Jul: Athens Grand Prix - :10.19 (3rd)
Mon 14-Jul: Rethymno, GRE - :10.19 (3rd)
Wed 16-Jul: Lucerne, SUI - :10.17 (1st)
Fri 18-Jul: Paris France - :10.26 (3rd)
Jelks will now return home to the US and prepare to return to Europe to take on those sprinters who will compete in the Olympic Games in Beijing. Though he would have liked to be an Olympian, Jelks understands that his time has not come and must continue to train and improve every phases of the technical 100 meter event.
Coach Al Hobson was very pleased with his young charges races and says Jelks has gained alot of maturity from his races both at the US Trials and in Europe……..excellent experience for next year’s World Outdoor T&F Championships. Jelks competed in the 2007 World Championships in Osaka Japan.
Hobson also promised that Ivory Williams will be ready to compete in Europe after the Olympic Games in August. Williams who has enjoyed a breakthrough year pushed his career best in the 100m from :10.13 in 2007 to :9.94 in 2008. Williams has also performed well this season with victories in Guadeloupe and Martinique as well as a 3rd place finish in Berlin GL and 2nd at the Pre Classic before running :9.94 in Eugene Oregon.
Both Jelks and Williams are eager to travel to Europe to show that the US has the world’s best sprinters and left 2 off the team for Beijing.
World Express will have both US Olympians Brittney Reese (Long jump) and Reggie Witherspoon (400m) competing today in the Super GP DN Galan meeting in Stockholm.
For more information regarding World Express athletes Mark Jelks and Ivory Williams please visit us at http://www.worldexpressmgmt.com
Thank you,
Mark A. Pryor
World Express Athletic Mgmt.
Fax: 860-392-1559
http://www.worldexpressmgmt.com