The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

MARC Burns, one of the promising sprinters to come out of Trinidad & Tobago since four-time Olympic medallist Ato Boldon, is looking forward to coming to the Bahamas to compete in the inaugural IAAF World Relays at the new Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium in May.

On the eve of his 31st birthday today, Burns was in town over the weekend to view the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ Odd Distance Track and Field Meet held at the original TAR Stadium. It was the first trip for Burns, who last competed here in 2000 at the Central American and Caribbean Championships.

“It was a nice experience. The weather was nice and I got a chance to see the junkanoo,” said Burns, who took a break from his training in Auburn. “Now I get a chance to see some of the athletes perform here. The crowd was really into it. It was a nice meet.”

With the new stadium next door, Burns said he’s eager to come back and make his presence felt.

“We are working towards coming here to compete in the relay meet,” he said. “Together, with my teammates, we are looking forward to coming to the Bahamas to compete. It’s always good competition when we come here and against the Bahamas. Now we have the rest of the world coming, so it should be a lot of fun.”

In preparation for the upcoming season, Burns will return to Auburn to resume his training under the tutelage of Bahamian coach Henry Rolle.

Burns, who has yet to win an individual medal at either the Olympics or the World Championships, is coming off an injured year that hampered him from competing in Moscow, Russia, in August.

“It’s coming on good,” said Burns about his training sessions. “The hardest thing as a track athlete is getting over an injury. But I’m back in training and anything could happen. I’m looking forward to competing again this year.”

Not having done a personal best of 9.96 seconds in the 100 metres and 20.57 in the 200m since 2005, Burns said he’s projecting to lower his times and eventually get himself ready to challenge for a shot at a medal at the 2015 World Championships and the 2016 Olympics.

“It’s an exciting time for me. Last year, I got hurt before our trials and I didn’t get to compete,” Burns said. “I wanted to come here to compete in the first Chris Brown Invitational, but I already had a commitment to compete in a meet in Europe. Hopefully I will get the chance to come here to compete in his meet this year.”

With the XX Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland in July as the highlight for the year, Brown said he’s looking forward to being healthy enough to represent Trinidad & Tobago and by extension the Caribbean.

Additionally, the Central American and Caribbean Games, set for Veracruz, Mexico in November, is also on his agenda. But right now, he said he just wants to stay healthy.