Quarter-miler Roshawn Clarke has a point to prove
Jamaica’s most dominant youth 400m hurdler Roshawn Clarke completed the first part of his 2022 World Under-20 Championship mission when he won the Under-20 boys final at the National Senior and Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, on Friday in a new personal best 49.39s.
With the win, Clarke secured his seat on the plane to Cali, Colombia, where he will be aiming to exorcise the demons of Nairobi.
After overcoming the disappointment of not making the final in Kenya, Clarke has used the rookie mistake as a learning tool and has set his sights on a podium finish this time around.
“It was a good experience in Nairobi because I learned a lesson to always run through the line, even if you are comfortable winning. So [I’m] going back there to go and get a medal, to win of course, but I have to make the final then proceed from there,” he said.
After one year of learning from the biggest lesson of his young life, Clarke is ready to prove that he has grown as a result of it.
“Last year at Nairobi I didn’t make the final because of an error in the semi-finals, so I’m going back there to prove myself.”
Physically, he is taller, stronger, and faster and after being expertly prepared by Okeil Stewart the Camperdown High School student is ready to go even faster in Cali.
“I’m in better shape, running way faster times, but I hope to get down my times even more to compete at the World Under-20.”
“I was hoping for a faster time, but my hurdling technique was a little bit off in the straight, so I checked and the time [I wanted to run] was gone, so I will make up for that at the World Championships,” he said.
Clarke is convinced that a medal in Cali is in his future and will be putting the finishing touches on his technique to make sure that dream becomes a reality at the event in August.
“I think I am on the right path to go there and get a medal, so I need to improve on some things in training and go out there and do my best.”
Clarke also won the event at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships and Carifta Games earlier this year.
— Dwayne Richards