“SPEED kills!”

That was the powerful and direct statement from Jamaican female quarter-miler Candice McLeod as she explained her focus on the shorter sprints, which she is using to improve her speed for her 400m races this season.

McLeod, who finished sixth in the final of the 400m event at 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, opened her season when she clocked a swift 23.64 seconds to win the women’s 200m at the SW Isaac Henry meet on Saturday at the National Stadium.

She was quick out of blocks before blowing away the field coming off the bend as she cruised to the finish line for an easy victory. Grizell Scarlett was second in 24.28, followed by Eristee Akrisa 25.17.

The 26-year-old McLeod, who also finished sixth in the final of the 400m event at the Tokyo Olympic Games, told the Jamaica Observer that she has been working very hard in training to improve on her speed because this is something she has lacked over the years.

“I mean, speed kills and so who doesn’t need to speed? So yes, of course that is something that I am working on,” said McLeod matter-of-factly after Saturday’s victory at the National Stadium.

“It is basically a training session, to be honest, so yes I am pleased with this,” she said.

The former Vere Technical athlete who has a personal best time of 49.51 in the 400m, shared that she is taking things one step at a time because she has been working very hard with her Coach Shaniekie Osbourne to improve on times this year.

“Preparations have been going well. I am pleased; I am patient; I am working with Coach Osbourne,” McLeod said. I trust her ability to take me where I want to go and so I am patient, although she is patient, and so we will see what happens.

“I just want to stay healthy, and once I am healthy anything is possible,” McLeod said.

She was the joint fastest Jamaican woman in 2022 in the 400m along with Charokee Young, with a time of 49.89 seconds.

In fact, her time was seventh-fastest in the world last year, behind Dominican Republic’s Paulino Marileidy who was the fastest woman in the world in 2022 with a time of 48.99.

The lanky athlete, who is yet to compete in the 400m this season, underscored that this is a massive year for her and that she is hoping the hard work she has been putting in during training will pay off for her this season.

“The aim is always to improve yourself and yes, I am working on improving myself,” stated McLeod.

“There is a lot to work on with me and, like I said, I am being patient and I am working on a lot of things and I am pleased so far — and so will see how it goes,” she concluded.