Speedster Simeon learns from the best

SIMEON Williamson has friends in high places and Britain's No.1 sprinter intends to use them to go straight to the top.

_{PUMPING IRON: Williamson goes west to get in shape for the new campaign}

The 22-year-old was the second fastest Brit over 100m last season as he slashed his PB to 10.03 seconds - bettered only by the much-maligned Dwain Chambers.

Williamson, who reached the quarter-final in Beijing, has surrounded himself with Olympic medalists by training in Kingston, Jamaica including double Olympic champion Usain Bolt and former world record holder Asafa Powell.

And Williamson, cousin of high jumper Germaine Mason who grabbed silver in Beijing and persuaded the speedster to join him in the Caribbean, insists he's feeling better than ever.

"I'm feeling really fit and already I am much more lean," said Williamson who has swapped Lea Valley for Jamaica. "They're producing medallists here, so they're obviously doing something right.

"Before I came Germaine (Mason) told me I would only have to get up twice a week for 5.30am.

"He probably thinks if he told me the truth, I wouldn't have come! But that's the way it is, so I just get on with it. It's hard, but I'm enjoying it.

"I operate much better in this type of environment - there are no distractions.

"There's no driving around seeing mates like you might do at home. We just train, sleep and eat."

Williamson will be in Jamaica until January 15 when he plans to return to the UK and mount an assault on the European Indoor Championships in March.

And the Highgate Harrier believes he has found the key to success as he rubs shoulders with the imperious Jamaican team who swept the sprinting board in ther Far East.

"At home, I would train just once a day and do everything in one session," he added. "Here we run on the grass and run on the hills and in the afternoon, we do running drills and weights.

"We don't run on a track. The facilities are very basic, nothing like at home.

"The gym is tiny and there can be about 50 or so athletes in there, so you just have to get in line and take your turn.

"They're producing medals here so they must be doing something right." Simeon Williamson

 

"Some of the weights don't fit on the bars properly either. But there's no complaining, you just get on with it and it obviously works."

GERARD MEAGHER