Jamaica’s 2019 World Champion bronze medallist in the women’s 400m hurdles Rushell Clayton finally opened her season at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Qualification Trials Series at the National Stadium last Saturday when she participated in the straight 400m.

Clayton, like many other local-based athletes, has been deprived of competition for an extended period, but was delighted to finally get things going.

Running in a heat with more seasoned 400m specialists, Clayton finished in fifth place in 53.93s, but was not perturbed by the time or placing.

“It was actually a good run for me, despite where I finished in the race,” she said.

“I am proud of what I did, because all I wanted to do was come out and get the run out of the way.”

The Swept Track Club athlete says that her focus at the moment is on perfecting the different phases of her race.

“For me it’s all about execution. I have been saying it over the years, it’s all about execution, just to come out here and work on each phase, each race at a time,” Clayton said.

The World Relays is less than two months away and even as athletes are preparing to represent Jamaica at those championships, Clayton has not yet given making that team much thought.

“I haven’t put any thought into [the World Relays] just yet. It’s for my management team and I to sit and discuss, but for now it’s just to get each race out of the way, week by week,” she noted.

With just under five months to go before the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games, the reigning Jamaica 400m women’s hurdles champion says that the remaining preparation time could be tricky, depending on how it is used.

“Five months is a long time and a short time, at the same time. I haven’t run any hurdle race yet and…hurdles is my specialty. So, I am just looking forward to go, as I said before, each race at a time, each phase at a time and to see where it goes.”

Despite having a World Championship medal under her belt, Clayton is yet to represent Jamaica at the Olympic Games. It is something she deems very important to her career, but is respecting the process that will get her there.

“It would be very important [to make the Olympic team], but it starts with each race and getting on that team first,” Clayton stated.

Jamaica’s women’s 400m hurdles field is expected to be very competitive this year.

— Dwayne Richards