Athletics-Labiche out of world championships |23 July 2013
Labiche was crowned Sportswoman of the Year in January after a glorious 2012 season and was looking forward to another successful season as she aimed to retain her title.
However, this season has been an anticlimax for the Mont Fleuri resident as she has been frustrated with lack of international competitions in the first part of the year and lately she has been marred by a problem with her tendinitis.
Labiche is also disappointed with her recent training camp in Cuba which she felt was not useful at all.
“I think this training camp was a waste of money as I was supposed to train and take part in two competitions but nothing materialised,” revealed the national high jump record holder.
Labiche was sent to Cuba with her Cuban coach Carlos Sanchez for a month’s training to prepare for the world championships as well as the Jeux de la Francophonie.
“I have decided to pull out of all competitions this year for personal reasons, but I hope to come back in March next year,” Labiche explained to Sports Nation.
Labiche therefore will most probably be unable to defend her Sportswoman of the Year title but she is confident that the crown will remain in the sport of athletics as she thinks Marie-Helen Rose is having an outstanding season.
As for her own performances this season, she managed a jump of 1.80 metres in the Special Events competition but two weeks ago she could only clear the bar at 1.65 metres – way off her national record which stands at 1.88 metres.
As for the world championships, our sole representative will now be Neddy Marie in the 200 metres after the 20-year-old Labiche, who had qualified for this prestigious competition, declined her selection.
R. J-L.