Thomas’ season of firsts

PARIS, France:

LANAE-TAVA THOMAS is hoping that her Olympic debut will be an introduction to the world of what she is capable of in a season of firsts.

Thomas’s first professional campaign has seen her enter her first major global championships, something that she has had to wait for a year as her transfer of allegiance was not ready in time for her to fight for a place on the World Athletics Championship team in Budapest last year.

For her, the defining moment of 2024 came early this season in Jamaica when she opened her 200 metres slate at the Jamaica International Invitational finishing third in 22.84 seconds and then going quicker at the Racers Grand Prix in June, taking the win in 22.36.

“In my opening 200m this year in Jamaica, that was the first time that I ran the 200m and I felt like ‘OK this season is going well.’ And to know what I opened up with such a fast time, it was amazing,” Thomas told The Gleaner. “And my coach was like, ‘yes and you did this terribly. If you did this better then it is all good for you.’ But I think it was the most defining part of this season.”

It has been an adjustment (for Thomas) to the professional level but she says that navigating the avenues of the next level has been worthwhile.

“Tried some things, some things didn’t work out. Trying some new things, some things didn’t work. It’s my first year as a professional, so it’s trying to figure out everything as we go along. It’s been rocky but I think we are straightening it out,” Thomas said.

Thomas is also looking forward to the future but she is determined to stay in the present, focused on introducing herself to the world.

“I wouldn’t expect anything else. They shouldn’t expect anything else,” Thomas said.