NATIONAL junior men’s 100m record holder and World Under-20 silver medallist Bouwahjgie Nkrumie thinks he can win a spot on Jamaica’s team to this summer’s World Athletics Championships.

Nkrumie, who turns 19 on Thursday, was honoured at Saturday’s 44th staging of the Milo Western Relays at G C Foster College of Physical Education and Sport in St Catherine for an outstanding 2022 season.

The Kingston College sprinter, who hails from Black River in St Elizabeth, ran a Jamaican junior record 10.02 seconds to win silver in the men’s 100m at last year’s World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.

The CARIFTA Games Under-20 silver medallist has forced his way into the conversation about spots on the national team and will hope to join the youth revolution that includes World Championships finalists Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake.

“My number one goal for this season is to make the World Championships team but if I don’t, then that is fine as well — I won’t feel bad about it,” said Nkrumie in reference to the global event set for Budapest, Hungary, from August 19-27.

“Surely, definitely, there is a spot for me but if I don’t [make it] then I won’t bash myself as I am still very inexperienced at that level. But, I want you to tell the people to support; I want them to be on my side and not bashing me,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Nkrumie opened his season with a smooth World Under-20-leading 10.30 at the National Stadium on February 4, his fastest-ever start.

He said he had several offers at the end of last season to leave high school but did not want to be rushed into a decision.

“I am not in any rush; I want to take it step by step. I don’t think that right now I am strong enough and I don’t want anyone to write my story. I want to be the one to make the decisions and I will take it step by step,” Nkrumie reiterated.

He, however, did not say what his plans are after high school.

“I am not sure as yet but I won’t share my plans as yet. But the more I run, the more my confidence increases — and I will take it step by step and I will do great things this season,” he said.