The Jamaica women’s 400m hurdles national record has stood for the last 15 years but two-time World Championships bronze medallist Rushell Clayton says she has what it takes to break it with the help of her coach, Reynaldo Walcott.

Clayton has proven to be one of the country’s best ever in the event with three medals at global championships including bronze at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, as well as the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Hungary, Budapest.

The 31-year-old is also the third fastest Jamaican in the 400m hurdles with 52.81 seconds, which she set in last year’s final. Only 12 athletes in the history of the event have gone faster, including countrywoman Melaine Walker.

The Olympic and world champion Walker set the record in 2009 when she clocked 52.42 seconds to win gold at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany.

Clayton told the Jamaica Observer that while qualifying for this summer’s Paris Olympics and getting a medal there are among her priorities, she intends to break Walker’s record.

“Definitely!” she said. “I think many of the ladies are trying to run this national record. I’ve run 52.8 and that tells me that if I put this race together even better, then I can get the national record. But I’m not focusing on time, when it comes to trials, I focus on finishing in top three and when I get to the championships, the aim is to focus on finishing in top three. When you run in these finals, the time always comes,” Clayton added.

Clayton was previously guided by noted local coaches Fitz Coleman and Okiele Coleman. However, she’s into her third year with Elite Performance Head Coach Walcott, who also boasts the likes of sprint giants Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and most recently, Elaine Thompson-Herah.

She says he has helped her achieve new heights and is confident heading into her debut Olympics under his watch.

“I’m super, super happy, the times show, the execution shows, I love my group. Coach Walcott is one of the best out there and it’s so good to be working with him. I’ve been with my coach for the third season and we’ve always been working on different things, so whatever he says that’s why I’ll go with because I trust him and trust the journey,” she said.

The 400m hurdles title is arguably one of the most competitive fields with America’s world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and reigning world champion Femke Bol among the favourites.

But with all being well, Clayton is looking forward to a great year.

“I’m just looking forward to going out there, having fun first of all, and competing. I’m looking forward to the season, it’s going to be amazing. It’s going to be hard, these ladies are running super fast but I’m excited,” she said.

Clayton, who was a patron at the recent Sagicor Sigma Honour Run, will also have an added incentive as Sagicor Group Jamaica President Christopher Zacca promised $1 million to charity if she wins gold.

She will be looking to join a prestigious list with Deon Hemmings-McCatty, Melaine Walker and Kaliese Spencer being the only Jamaican women to medal at the Olympic Games.

Hemmings-McCatty historically won gold at the Atlanta Games in 1996 and followed it up with a silver medal at the Sydney Games in 2000. Walker won gold and broke the Olympic record at the Beijing Games in 2008.

Spencer initially finished fourth at the London Games in 2012 but was awarded bronze a decade later after Russia’s Natalya Antyukh was stripped of her medal after being found guilty of doping.