English javelin thrower, Izzy Jeffs, gets chance at Commonwealth Games
Most 18-year-olds do not have the opportunity to participate in high profile events like the Commonwealth Games, but javelin thrower Izzy Jeffs will. She earned her spot after a good season and an injury
to Goldie Sayers.
"It is still hard to believe, it really is weird," said Jeffs."I have not even told many of my friends, just a few know about it."
Sayers dropped out of the Games because of a fractured hip she suffered at the Aviva UK Championships earlier this year.
“I could quite easily go there and be very average,” said Sayers. “But it's not something I want to do at a major championship, especially when you're representing your country.”
The Games begin Sunday in Delhi, assuming the rash of issues that have risen do not force the cancellation of the Games, or the unlikely withdrawal of the English team.
A heavy monsoon season has increased the spread of diseases like dengue fever and malaria because of an increase in the mosquito population. The monsoons have also swollen the Yamuna River’s banks, forcing
poisonous snakes inland, and into the athlete’s village.
Delhi has also had trouble with the infrastructure of the Games venues. A bridge collapsed injuring two dozen people last week, and reports of the athlete’s village being incomplete were heard shortly
after that.
Earlier this month two tourists were shot at a popular tourist attraction which has raised concerns over terrorist attacks as well.
For many athletes, including Jeffs, the chance to compete outweighs concerns about the conditions of the athlete’s village, or the threat of attack. For older athletes the decision is considerably harder.
Phillips Idowu announced that he will not be participating in Delhi citing concerns for his safety. His decision, at least in part, was made with his family in mind.
“He's always been a very cautious father,” said Charles van Commenee, UK Athletics head coach. “He doesn't want to spend too much time away from home because of his kids, he's always been like that."
Jaffs did have one difficult decision to make, but it was something more appropriate for a person of her age, the decision to attend university or continue her athletics career immediately.
"I had a place offered at Loughborough and Brunel Universities, but I wasn't sure whether to go or take a gap year," said Jeffs. "But the selection for India made the decision for me as I would have missed
a large part of the first term, so I have decided to take a gap year and concentrate on my athletics."
Jeffs ended the summer third in the UK rankings behind Sayers and Laura Whittingham. The latter will be attending the Games with Jeffs as the other javelin thrower.
The chance to perform at the Commonwealth Games is a good opportunity for Jeffs. A strong showing could give her the experience she needs to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.
Jeffs threw a personal best 54.89 metres at the Bedford International Games in August. It was four metres beyond her former personal best. It’s still behind the 65.75 that Sayers threw at the 2008 Olympic
Games in Beijing to earn fourth spot, but at 18 years old, she has much room to grow.
And thanks to the chaos that has surrounded the Delhi games, she'll have something of a trial by fire as interest in the event is up more than ever, and it'll be a high-pressure situation for any athlete.
But Jeffs intends to go all the way.
"At the moment, I haven't a clue who I will be up against, but hopefully it will go okay and I can make the final," said Jeffs. "That's my main goal, first and foremost."
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