Dezerea Bryant Ready For U.S. Trials, Says Coach

EUGENE, Ore. (Sporting Alert) — This weekend, several collegiate standouts will be battling for places on the U.S. team to the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, later this summer and outgoing Kentucky sensation Dezerea Bryant will be one of them.

Ready To Fire In The Sprints 

After an impressive senior year where she posted personal bests in the short sprints, Bryant now turns her attention to the U.S. Trials and her coach Edrick Floreal is confident that she is ready.

Bryant, who closed out her collegiate campaign on a winning note — landing the women’s 200 metres title at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships earlier this month — will be hoping to hold her peak and carry over that form at the senior level when she competes in the 100m and 200m at this trials.

“The current plan is to do both (the 100m and 200m) but the number 1 goal is to make the team,” Floreal told SportingAlert.com on Monday.

“She has had great practices and has executed her mechanics very well.”

One of The Ones To Watch

The 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships bronze medallist over the 200m, heads to Eugene, Oregon, as one of the sprinters to watch, especially in the half-lap, after covering the distance in an attractive personal best of 22.18 seconds when winning the NCAA crown at Hayward Field.

That time is third fastest in the world this year behind Allyson Felix (21.98) and Bahamian Shaunae Miller (22.14) and Floreal believes the 22-year-old is in great shape to make the team to Beijing.

Bryant’s progression over the 100m hasn’t gone unnoticeable either after she improved her career best to 11.14 this term and also has a wind-aided time of 10.99secs under her belt.

“She will be ready to perform,” Floreal told SportingAlert.com on Monday. “She is an outstanding competitor and tremendous worker.”

Very Strong Field Awaits

Bryant is set to line up against the likes of Tori Bowie, the favourite on form to win the sprint double, as well as English Gardner, Oregon’s Jenna Prandini, Kyra Jefferson, Carmelita Jeter and Jeneba Tarmoh, among others, but is looking forward to stepping things up a notch.

“She is looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

Asked whether he thought the 12-time All-American would have had sufficient time to recover from the long college season to be fresh for the trials, Floreal added: “(Bryant) should be fine except for a little hey lag and jitters.”

21 Seconds The New Target?

Coach Floreal also thinks given the right conditions, his pupil could very well lower her personal bests again.

So is breaking 22-seconds a possibility? He noted: “This is a strong possibility in the right race with the right wind.”

Look out for the name Dezerea Bryant, she is heading for stardom.

Dezerea Bryant Personal Bests  100m: 11.14 (10.96w) | 200m: 22.18 |

Collegiate Stars List For The U.S. Trials Sprints Are:

Jenna Prandini (Oregon), Aaliyah Brown (Texas A&M), Jasmine Todd (Oregon), Dezerea Bryant (Kentucky), Morolake Akinosun (Texas), Katie Wise (Indiana State), Sabria Hadley (Clemson), Alexis Faulknor (Southern California), Cierra White (Texas Tech), Mackenzie Flannigan (Boise State), Dominique Booker (Kentucky), Kyra Jefferson (Florida), Brittany Brown (Iowa), A’Keyla Mitchell (Kansas State), J’Nea Bellamy (UCF), Keilah Tyson (Kentucky), Shannon Ray (Ole Miss), Aisha Cavin (Ohio State), Marie Veale (Cal St. Northridge)

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