Okeile Stewart, coach of national 400m hurdles champion Roshawn Clarke, says the reigning Jamaican champion has been going through a calculated and focused training phase ahead of the upcoming World Athletics Championships set for Tokyo, Japan, in September.

Stewart told the Jamaica Observer that Clarke, who stormed to victory at the National Championships in June, has since been in a carefully tailored programme designed to refine his execution on the international stage.

“We have been focusing on some of the key aspects that we believe will help him to be a little bit more efficient in his competitive running,” Stewart said.

“We have assessed the competition internationally and we have seen that there are some things that we would like to adjust in our preparations. As such, we have been spending some time to put those things in place, hoping that when we get into competition, we are able to execute and produce the results that we anticipate, which is to get us a medal at the championships.”

The 21-year-old Clarke, who picked up an injury during his season debut at the Grand Slam Track meet in Florida, United States, in early May, stormed to victory in a season’s best 48.02 seconds to win the national title. His personal best is 47.34.

Roshawn Clarke trains on the eve of the Grand Slam Track at the National Stadium in Jamaica in April 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Clarke’s 48.02 makes him the fastest Jamaican this season and the sixth quickest in the world this year. The American Rai Benjamin is the fastest man in the world over the one-lap obstacle race with a time of 46.54.

Stewart noted that Clarke’s path to success has not been without its share of challenges, but he believes his resilience and growing experience have put him in a stronger position mentally and physically.

“Like every champion, you know you have to bounce back from things like these, even though it is a part of sport. We try not to dwell. We understand that once you try to push beyond the boundaries, you will encounter little challenges and little setbacks. But we try never to have those as things that will hinder us from pushing forward and still trying to be the best that we can be,” he explained.

Stewart also pointed out that Clarke’s victory at the National Championships is very crucial to his mindset heading into the global showdown.

“He is definitely a lot more experienced now because the aim of the National Championships is pretty much to win and to make the team.

“I believe this will help him to move more confidently going into the championships knowing that he was out for a little while and that he was able to come back home and win the last two races that he ran,” the coach said.

STEWART… we have been spending some time to put those things in place, hoping that when we get into competition, we are able to execute and produce the results that we anticipate (Photo: Naphtali Junior)