Young Jamaican sprinter Adrian Kerr says last Saturday’s stunning victory over reigning World Indoor bronze medallist Ackeem Blake and the rapidly improving Sanjay Davison in the 200m has given him a huge confidence boost as he sets his sights on making Jamaica’s team to the World Athletics Championship set for Tokyo, Japan, this year.

Kerr, a former Kingston College standout, stormed to victory in the 200m in a personal best time of 20.47 seconds at the Jamaica World Indoor Qualifiers at GC Foster College, and while admitting that he was surprised with the result, is now hoping it will set him up for the future.

“I never really expected it, but when you trust in God, He always comes through for you,” Kerr said after his win. “This will give me a lot of confidence because I am not a great starter, but when it comes to the 200m, I know that I will put down a great race to entertain the spectators.”

Despite entering the race with some doubts, Kerr found an extra gear down the home straight to secure the victory.

“Going into this race, I didn’t have the confidence, honestly. But coming home down the straight and seeing that I had the race in the palm of my hands, I just found that little extra to get the victory,” he revealed.

Kerr believes that this is just the beginning and that even faster times are within reach.

“I think that I can run much faster than this because my training this season gears towards that and I know that I have it in me to do so,” he stated. “I am looking at the big games, the World Championships, so my main focus is there. But along the way, you may pick up something here and there, and whatever the journey has, I am ready for it.”

Now filled with belief, Kerr noted that he is ready to push himself to earn a spot on the team to Tokyo and is trusting that his process will take him closer to his targets.

“Sometimes you come out and hope for the best and you don’t get what you want. But if you know your programme, then you must trust it, and I trusted in mine and you saw the result in the 200m,” Kerr explained, adding that this breakthrough performance has completely shifted his mindset.

“That has given me 1,000-plus confidence and, right now, I am much better than before,” he declared.

Kerr currently has a personal best time of 10.08 seconds in the 100m event and will no doubt be looking to lower that as well, as the season progresses.