NAVASKY Anderson says he was not surprised that he broke the Jamaican national record in the men’s 800m after he ran 1:44.61 minutes to win the event at the Mission Run Baltimore High Performance on Sunday.

Anderson, who has carried the Jamaican flag in the event for the past three years, lowered his own record of 1:44.70 set in 2023.

On Sunday, Anderson was sixth after the first lap in 52.19 seconds, practically evenly splitting the race to beat Moroccan Moad Zahafi who ran a season’s best 1:44.72. Ghana’s national record holder Alex Amankwa was third in 1:45.50.

“Based on the speed and endurance workouts I’ve been building on week after week I’ve definitely gotten faster and stronger,” Anderson, who ran 1:46.59 in the 800m at the Penn Relays in late April, told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday.

“I’ve improved my 1500m time and have also been getting stronger in the weights room.”

He said he had not started “specific training” for the two-lap race, focusing more on the 1500m in which he lowered his personal best to 3:33.13 minutes in mid-May this year.

Anderson, who is based in Baltimore, Maryland, and trains under Coach Tom Brumlik as part of Team Under Armour, noted: “By taking care of my body — eating right, staying hydrated, and prioritising recovery — I was confident coming into this race. The goal was to win, and given the quality of the field I knew a win would require a fast time so yes, this result was very much expected.”

He is yet to make the World Championships qualifying mark of 1:44.50 for the mid-September championships in Tokyo, Japan, but said he is not too worried.

“The season is long so there’s no rush. I’m staying patient and humble, trusting that with faith and consistency everything will fall into place. So far, preparation is right on track and, most importantly, I’m enjoying the process.

“I’m not worried. The plan is already written — I just need to remain focused, stay level-headed, and execute when the moment comes,” he added.

Sunday’s race was his final before the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships set for later this month. He said that while he does not want to put “any pressure on myself” he predicts the men’s 800m“will be an event to watch”. He added that he is hoping Jamaica can field three men for the 800m in Tokyo.

Rivaldo Marshall (1:45.59), Tyrice Taylor (1:45.81) and Kimar Farquharson (1:45.99), along with Dugion Blackmon and Kirk Dawkins, have all been doing well for their respective United States colleges this year. Add reigning national champion Tarees Rhoden and many expect the men’s 800m at the trial to be quite competitive.

“It’s always special to come home and compete in front of a Jamaican crowd — the energy and atmosphere are unmatched,” Anderson said. “One of my biggest goals this season is to help bring along my fellow Jamaican 800m athletes and, hopefully, have three of us representing on the world stage in Tokyo. That would mean a lot to me and to Jamaica.”