It is difficult, maybe even foolhardy, to ever count out sprint hurdler Megan Tapper, given her propensity to exceed expectations in an event that has provided its fair share of surprises over the years.

As she has previously, in 2016 and 2021, Tapper defied the odds to win her third Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships, securing her place on the team to the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August.

Tapper, who switched to the Kingston-based Elite Performance Track Club this year, had sent a message in Saturday’s semi-finals at the National Stadium when she ran a personal best 12.44 seconds.

On Sunday she completed the job with a 12.64 clocking to get to the finish line ahead of pre-championships favourite Ackera Nugent (12.67) and 2019 World Championships gold medallist Danielle Williams (12.82).

“It’s amazing [to be national champion again],” she told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday.

“It has been, as usual, not the best of seasons. But with the help of my Coach Reynaldo Walcott and a lot of special people, I was able to pull through again. Glory to God, obviously,” the 29-year-old athlete said.

Eight Jamaican women ran under the World Championships qualifying time of 12.78, including Amoi Brown and Yanique Thomas, who ran lifetime best last weekend, as well as Crystal Morrison.

Despite her fast time on Saturday when she was pushed by Brown, Tapper said she was not taking anything for granted, especially in one of the most competitive events of the four-day championships.

“At the end of the day, finals is the only thing that matters,” she pointed out.

“You can come and run whatever you run in the heats but the point is they make the team and if you don’t come with the mentality that nothing that you did yesterday matters, then you have a chance of not making it, so that’s exactly what I did. I just put together the best race that I could.”

In 2021, Tapper surprised the field to win the bronze at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. But a year later she missed the final at the World Championships in Eugene, United States, despite running a then personal best 12.52.

Tapper, who is seeking to make amends this year, said she expects to compete between now and the start of the championships in Budapest, but that the details have not yet been finalised.

The bubbly sprint hurdler expressed optimism she can get to the next level by recording a sub 12.40 seconds run.

“I mean really Mr Walcott is an excellent coach, so I am looking forward to bigger and better things for sure,” she said.

“I just need to listen to coach and follow his instructions as best as possible and execute when it matters,” Tapper added.