BIRMINGHAM, England — Required at the eleventh hour to step in and represent Jamaica in the women’s 100m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Remona Burchell believes she is ready as ever to make the most of the opportunity that has been presented to her.

Burchell was drafted into the team after Kemba Nelson was unable to take her place among the Jamaican 100m trio and efforts by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association to bring in Briana Williams fell through.

The 30-year-old was the fifth-place finisher at the National Senior Championships and says she is focusing on making it through the rounds, progressing to the final, and putting her best foot forward.

“I am looking forward to it; it’s my first individual race for team Jamaica. Well I did the World Indoors but this is my first one outdoors so I’m really happy for the experience and I am looking forward to racing and seeing what I’m capable of doing so yeah, I’m really grateful and I’m happy,” Burchell told The Jamaica Observer.

“I just want to get through each round, focus on each round with the view of advancing to the final. I just want to go through the rounds and make sure I qualify and make it to the final; and then when the finals comes around I’ll tell myself that this is the time to, you know, get the medal. So I’m just going to focus on the rounds — first and foremost,” Burchell said.

Burchell was a finalist at the 2018 World Indoor Championships and featured in early round runs for Jamaica’s 4x100m relay teams at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the World Athletics Championships in Eugene a few days ago.

The Sprintech Track Club-based athlete says she has not had to make any adjustments to her preparations since she was advised that she would be competing in the 100m as opposed to just the 4x100m at the games.

“I really haven’t done anything different in training. I did what I was supposed to do for the 4x100m but mentally I’m ready. I know I’ve trained hard all season and I know that my body is in the best condition it has been in a long time, so I’m definitely ready,” Burchell affirmed.

Burchell has a personal best of 11.03 seconds in the 100m, a time which was done in 2014. By all accounts she is expected to challenge that time in Birmingham.

Jamaica’s other competitors in the women’s 100m are Elaine Thompson-Herah and Natalliah Whyte.

The women’s 100m heats will begin today at 12:15pm (6:15am Jamaica time) at Alexander Stadium.

— Andre Lowe