TOKYO, Japan — Navasky Anderson is enjoying his growth and making his strides count. The 25-year-old has long been seen as one of Jamaica’s brightest middle distance prospects, and now, at the World Athletics Championships, he is finally beginning to show the kind of progress he has worked towards.

Anderson, who advanced to the men’s 800m semi-finals with a 1:44.87 run, spoke with a mixture of relief and excitement about proving to himself that he belongs on this stage.

For a country celebrated for its sprinting success, Anderson’s progress and that of his compatriot Tyrice Taylor, the national record holder, represents not only a personal breakthrough but a symbolic push for Jamaica’s middle distance ambitions.

“It’s definitely exciting because I’m going into the semi-finals,” Anderson exclaimed. “It’s my third World Championships and my first time advancing to the semi-finals, and this was something I always wanted to do. And it’s not just about advancing to the semi-finals but to push myself through to the final — which is really what I want.”

Taylor secured his spot in the final after finishing third in his heat in 1:45.13.

Anderson and Taylor dominate the list of best times recorded by a Jamaican in the event — a reality that underlines the pair’s potential but also carries with it additional pressure, even as they navigate and continue their development at the international level.

Anderson says he is pleased with his trajectory and is hoping to get to a point where his performances can inspire.

“I am definitely heading in the right direction. I am still young, still getting that experience, and it’s just wonderful and great to see that, yes, I now have the confidence not just to run with these guys, but also to beat them. And I know I can beat them, and that is what I am here to do,” Anderson said.

“As Jamaicans, we are good at anything that we do so I am here as a representative in the middle distance group, along with other athletes like Tyrice Taylor, Natoya Goule, Adelle Tracey and Kelly-Ann Beckford.

“We are here pushing the middle distances. We know it is not an easy road but we can do it, and we want the love, appreciation, and support from our our people because we can get up there too in terms of performance,” Anderson added.

“As long as I go out there and put my best foot forward, I know that every Jamaican will appreciate that so I just need to stay grounded, take it one step a time, and know that I am doing my best every time I step on the track.”

Anderson has developed a bit of a reputation as a YouTuber, often sharing a candid, behind-the-scenes look at happenings around the team, his training and competitions.

“It’s going great [social media posts]. It’s running time so since last week I backed off the content. But when we were in training camp I tried to show a lot of the experiences that we have been having, because that content is not just for social media purposes it’s informative and it allows everyone, especially the younger generation, to see and say that this is what life is like at a championship, and give them a source of motivation that if they work hard enough they too can get to that level,” said Anderson.