BALTIMORE, United States — Outstanding Jamaica quarter-miler Rickiann Russell is aiming to run a personal best in the 400m at today’s second staging of the East Coast International Showcase at Prince George Sports and Learning Complex in Maryland.

Russell, 19, has been in scintillating form this season, which saw her winning the gold medal in the Class One 400m event in a personal best time of 51.26 seconds at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships in March.

A week later the lanky athlete also produced an excellent performance to win the gold medal in the Girls’ Under-20 400m at the Carifta Games in The Bahamas.

Russell has been drawn in heat one of the time finals during which she will go up against the Hydel pair of Abigail Campbell and Nastassia Fletcher. Sage Hinton and Mirai Bernard, both of the Bullis School, are also down to compete in the race.

“I am really looking forward to it because this is my first time competing here in Maryland and so I am really excited to go out there and do my best,” said Russell. “I want to go there and run a fast time or even to run a personal best time.”

Russell says she has put in the work, therefore, a fast time is within reach.

“I have been training well coming into this meet, so I definitely believe that I can achieve a personal best because I am focused and ready to execute my race plan,” Russell said.

The lanky athlete noted that the meet forms an important part of the build-up in her preparation for the National Senior Championships next month.

“This meet is very important to me because I really want to see where I am at in terms of the things that I have been working on in training for my upcoming meets this season,” said the soft-spoken Russell. “This meet will also help me to showcase my talent to people in this part of the world, so I just want to go out there and put on a good showing,” she added.