Jamaican sprint hurdler Britany Anderson says she is looking forward to the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and believes that the disappointment experienced at last year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, is fuelling her success this season.

Anderson impressed in the earlier rounds in Tokyo, clocking a personal best of 12.40 seconds in the semi-final, signalling her immense talent and ensuring she would enter the final as a contender for a podium finish.

Things, however, did not go to plan for the youngster, who made solid connections with hurdles six and eight to kill her momentum and erase any hopes of a medal, eventually jogging across the line in 13.24 after all had been lost.

However, the 21-year-old has seemingly moved well past that experience and has again been impressive throughout the current campaign, winning seven of her 10 races, while finishing second in the others, having already gone 12.45 seconds so far.

“Tokyo wasn’t the result that I expected but that’s in the past and everything happens for a reason and God has definitely shown me that this season, I can do it, I can get it done. But despite the setback, Tokyo definitely showed me what I can do,” Anderson told the Jamaica Observer. “Tokyo is really in the past right now and I’m just really focused on this season.”

Having shown consistent improvements over the past couple of seasons, Anderson pointed to her work in training at the Tumbleweed Track Club, which she joined in 2019 as a major factor in her growth.

“The improvement means the world to me, it definitely does. Because my first years in pro were not the best. I’ve seen that I have been developing every single year and this one is no different. I have been working hard and definitely, this means a lot to me,” she said.

Anderson admitted that her success so far this season has also boosted her confidence heading to the World Championships where she is again expected to challenge Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn.

“Every race, every training programme, I have acknowledge my growth and the races I have run and the results this season have definitely made me confident for the World Championships. I’m just waiting for it and trusting God and hopefully he will bring me through it,” Anderson added.

Anderson, who came from behind to beat Olympic bronze medal winner Megan Tapper to the national title last month, also pointed to that achievement — her first national title — as a major point of pride ahead of her competition in Eugene.

“I’m really excited. I’ve been going at it for years now. So to win at the National Championships and compete at the World Championships as national champion, it feels really great,” said Anderson. The 100m hurdles heats get underway on July 23, the penultimate day of the championships, starting at 1:20 pm.