TAMPERE, Finland — Damion Thomas wants the World Junior Record in the men’s 110m hurdles for himself and thinks if he does what he needs to over the next two days, he will leave Tampere, Finland, as the fastest ever in the history of the event.

Thomas ran 12.99 seconds three weeks ago at the JAAA National Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston, equalling the time set four years ago in Eugene, Oregon by France’s Wilhelm Bellocian, but said the race in Kingston had a few mistakes that he knows he can “clean up”.

The Florida-born Louisiana State University student is coming off a brilliant first college season in which he finished second in the 110m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoors Championships and earned two All-American honours. He says crashing out in the first round of the 110m hurdles in Poland in 2016 has motivated him all year.

In his first season representing Jamaica, Thomas went to Poland as a medal favourite, but hit the first hurdle and his championship was over.

“The urge to come out here and work hard comes from what happened two years ago… knowing that I was supposed to do great things two years ago, so this year [during] training I have had it in my mind and [am] using it as motivation. It has helped me as far as running the time that I did and how I ran and during the NCAA season,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday,

Since equalling the World Junior Record, he said he has finally come to the realisation of what he has achieved.

“I knew coming into the (championships) that it was possible, so equalling the record was a big achievement for me, but now going into World Under-20, I feel that I can go way faster,”noted Thomas.

He is not looking over his shoulders, he says. “I don’t feel any pressures. I feel like since I am the fastest man right now, the only man that can beat me is me, so as long as I execute a good race I should come out with the victory,” he said.

Competing in the tough South Eastern Conference, Thomas said, has toughened him up.

“Racing against fast guys every week has helped me; guys like Grant Holloway (of the University of Florida) and Reuben Walters (University of Alabama) who are real world-class guys has strengthen me mentally and will help me here,” Thomas said.

— Paul Reid