Run Jisna Run

The 18-year-old quartermiler is among the world’s best in her age bracket. This weekend in Almaty, she aims to make the cut for the London Worlds

June 23, 2017 10:57 pm | Updated 11:28 pm IST

Jisna Mathew

Jisna Mathew

If a talent scout were to look at Jisna Mathew’s family in Alakode village in the hilly regions of Kerala’s Kannur District, it’s unlikely they would be given a second glance.

For they are slight of build, and Jisna, at 5’1”, is the tallest of the lot.

“But despite her short frame, Jisna is blessed with long legs which offer her a good stride length,” says the legendary P.T. Usha, her coach. “I’m 5’7”, but Jisna’s legs are nearly as long as mine.”

What impressed Usha when the little girl arrived at her academy in Kozhikode six years ago was her natural speed. “That is the most important thing we look for, and that is why we selected her.”

But there was another issue Usha had to address. “Jisna, like [fellow trainees] Tintu Luka and Jessy Joseph, has a weak heart. So, we start slowly on them, monitor their pulse rate closely and increase the pace systematically,” explains Usha.

Like the talented two-lap runners Tintu and Jessy, Usha appears to have hit gold again, for Jisna has been among the world’s best quartermilers in her age group.

She was seventh in the under-18 400m world list last year with her 53.14s, and this year the 18-year-old is just outside the top-10 in the under-20 category with her recent personal best of 52.65s. She has also been to the Olympics and the senior Worlds as a member of the Indian 4x400m relay team.

Jisna won the 400m gold at the junior Asians last year and silver at the 2015 youth Asians, but this year has been a revelation.

She shocked the consistent M.R. Poovamma, the Asian Games bronze medallist and Asian Championships silver medallist, while winning the Indian Grand Prix gold in New Delhi with a personal best. This came after she had challenged Poovamma in a previous GP leg and finished with silver.

Jisna was also the country’s fastest quartermiler this year until Nirmala Sheoran’s stunning 51.28s run at the recent Federation Cup in Patiala, a time that earned the Haryana athlete a World Championships berth.

Nirmala’s powerful style can rattle her rivals, and Jisna admitted as much. “But we told Jisna to take races against Nirmala in a positive way, for it offers quality competition. Now the fear has gone and Jisna’s confidence has risen,” says Usha.

Jisna is clear about her goals for 2017. “My goal this year is 52.10s, the time that will help me qualify for the Worlds [in London in August] and also to finish among the top three in the Asian Championships [in Bhubaneswar, July 6-9],” she says.

She will compete at the Kosanov memorial meet in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on June 25 and 26, and the Bhubaneswar Asians (July 6-9) to try and qualify for the Worlds before the entry gates close on July 23. But Usha feels that Jisna should not despair if she fails to make the cut.

“Her main goal is to win a medal at next year’s under-20 Worlds. And I feel she is capable of getting it,” says Usha. “Many of the girls who are at the top in this year’s under-20 world list will go out of that age group next year. And that should boost Jisna’s chances.

“Jisna will be running 51.90s to 52.20s at the Asians, and by next year’s Asian Games in Indonesia, she could be doing something like 51.30.

“We have not given Jisna much weight training because at this age and with her frame, you cannot put too much load on her. We thought we could work with her natural qualities till she reaches 51.80 and then use supplements to improve her.

“We expect her to be in the late-49 to 50s range in the future. If she goes below 50s, she will be world class, she could get into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics final, and we hope that she wins a medal in the following Olympics.”

That sounds like a dream, unrealistic too. But even if she qualifies for the final at the Olympics, it will be a major achievement.

For now, Jisna is confident of doing well in the 2018 Junior Worlds. “I think I am capable of finishing among the top three,” she says

No Indian has ever won a medal in a track event at the World Championships, although medals have come in the field, with javelin sensation Neeraj Chopra claiming the country’s first-ever gold, with a world record, at the under-20 Worlds in Poland last year.

Can Jisna make track history?

BEATING THE CLOCK

A look at where Jisna is in the 400m, and where she intends to be

Personal best 52.65s

Worlds cut-off 52.10s

2018 Asian Games target 51.30s

Long-term ambition Sub-50s

Asia’s best 49.81s

Rio 2016 medal range 49.44 to 49.85s

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