Joel Redhead prepares himself for London 2012

by Michael Bascombe

STARKVILLE, Mississippi, February 29, 2012 - World 400m Champion Kirani James is not the only Grenadian athlete with his sights set on an Olympic medal in London this summer.

Not much is known about 24 year-old Joel Redhead, a determined track competitor who has been battling adversities.

Redhead, the brother of Janelle Redhead, 2011 IAAF Women’s World 200m semi-finalist, has been preparing himself for the competition of his life – London Olympic Games.

Redhead, who doubles in the 200m and 400m, will open his 2012 season next month competing in the one-lap event.

“I will be competing in the 400m but the emphasis on competition will be in the 200m,” he said in an interview from his training base in Mississippi.

Redhead, a founding member of the SpeedZone Track Club, has joined two other Grenadian athletes who have sat out the indoor season in preparation for the Olympics. German-based triple jumper Randy Lewis and quarter-miler Rondell Bartholomew have decided to concentrate on outdoor competition this year.

Redhead said he is about 80 per cent ready for competition this year and is working to ensure that he peaks at the right time.

“I started training in February last season and by May was running 20.57 and 46.20, so my coach believes I could do better this season,” Redhead said. “I am trying to keep a calm mind, stress free and get myself focus for competition,” he added with confidence.

He said that his goal is to reach the final of the Olympic Games. “I am capable of running quality times in both the 200m and 400m but my coach will make a decision based on my progression,” he said.

Redhead was scheduled to compete at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea but withdrew due to injury and logistical issues. He has admitted that the performances of James, Bartholomew and his sister in Daegu are motivating factors for him to succeed this year.

“One if the things motivating me is the performances of the athletes at the World Champs last year,” he said. “Kirani and Rondell in the final and how my sister reached the semis are encouragement to train harder.”

He is in regular contact with all three athletes. “We have a mutual friendship where we keep in touch regularly. Both Kirani and Rondell always inquire about my training. We care about each other.”