Gregory Little, coach of Jamaica’s 400m hurdler Malik James-King, says his athlete has stepped into the 2025 season with renewed confidence and a clear goal of reaching the final of the event at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Japan in September.

Little, who is the head coach of Titans Track Club, says the 25-year-old James-King is working harder than ever as he targets not only a place in the final, but also to better his personal best of 47.42 seconds.

“One of his main focuses this season is to make the final of the event at the World Championships,” said Little. “He has been training very hard and he is also aiming to run a personal best this year.”

James-King opened his season at the inaugural staging of the Grand Slam Track in Jamaica from April 4-6 with a solid time of 48.69 for fourth place. Though some distance off James-King’s best, Little noted it was a promising sign, especially considering the stage he is at in his training cycle.

“He came into this season with a lot more confidence. But we still have some work to do. As you saw at the Grand Slam, he got out a little slow but picked it up in the last part of the race. A 48.69 [clocking] is a good opening for April based on where he is in the programme. I am expecting him to lower this time in Miami at the next Grand Slam Track event [from May 2-4],” he said.

Last season ended in heartbreak for James-King at the Olympic Games in Paris. He was highly favoured to reach the final, but stumbled at the final hurdle in his semi-final, dashing his medal hopes.

“He hit the final hurdle and fell, but he picked himself up and finished the race. That kind of resilience is why we are so focused this year on not just reaching the final, but running a personal best,” Little pointed out.

James-King set his personal best set last season. Little stressed that the Jamaican 400m hurdler has the potential to go even faster, but noted that careful planning is key.

“We are putting in the work, but it is a long season. We have to keep that in mind when preparing the training programme. We are tweaking things so he can stay consistent and strong, especially at the back end of the season with the World Championships in September,” the coach explained.

The World Championships are to be held from September 13-21.

— Robert Bailey

Malik James-King (centre) finishes ahead of Roshawn Clarke (right) and Jaheel Hyde in the men’s 400m hurdles final during the national senior athletics championships at the National Stadium on June 28, 2024. (Photo: Collin Reid)