Emerging 400m hurdler Kemar Mowatt has continued his breakout year with an easy 49.43secs to win his heat and is looking forward to booking his spot on Jamaica’s team and the London medal podium.

Mowatt, 22, formerly of Munro College and now at the University of Arkansas, is aiming to run 47 seconds which he believes will land him in at least the final at London.

Mowatt has a personal best of 48.49secs done on June 9, which makes him the fastest Jamaican this year and the ninth quickest in the world. Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands has the world lead with 47.80secs done at the Jamaica International Invitational Meet in Kingston.

“This year has been a breakout year for me, so I am just trying to push my body to as far as it is able to go this year and hopefully I will get a 47. I don’t know how realistic that is but that’s my aim,” Mowatt told the Jamaica Observer.

Mowatt, who started the year with a personal best of 51.96secs, lowered that in April clocking 49.09secs while capturing the 400m hurdles at the SEC Relays.

He then went even faster clocking 48.64secs to win his semi-final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, registering a victory over favourite and defending champion Eric Futch. But Futch would reverse their placings in the final with a spectacular 48.32secs for victory. Mowatt finished third in his personal best of 48.49secs.

Mowatt, who was fourth in the Class One 400m hurdles at Boys Champs in 2014 behind Jaheel Hyde, Marvin Williams and Okeen Williams, will once again face Hyde in the final, this time for the National Senior title.

Mowatt threw down the gauntlet, cheekily winning his semi-final in 49.43secs, which was the fastest heading into the final. Hyde clocked 49.46secs, also with a lot in reserve, while Shawn Rose took the third semi-final in 49.50secs, setting the stage for an epic battle.

“I felt good,” said Mowatt, minutes after his heat, as the interview was interrupted by the sound of the starter’s gun in which Hyde zipped past on his way to victory. Mowatt, paid no attention.

“I was just relaxing down the back stretch making sure I was in striking distance of anybody and that’s what I did. I just try to win the race,” he noted.

“Track is really my life so I have never really known anything else. I just do the best that I can,” said Mowatt.

For sure, his best should get him a spot on Jamaica’s team to London in August as he continues what has been a remarkable year.