5 months ago
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British Virgin Islands (BVI) 400 metres hurdles specialist Kyron McMaster is excited to make his return to the Jamaica Athletics Invitational (JAI) since his first appearance at the track meet in 2017.
McMaster last competed in Jamaica at the 2017 staging of the meet during the season where he made his transition as a senior professional.
At that time, McMaster was a class above the field when he stopped the clock in a then world-leading time of 47.80 seconds ahead of Jamaica’s Jaheel Hyde, 48.52, and American Bershawn Jackson, 48.63.
Making his return seven years later, a matured McMaster said he is excited to compete in Jamaica as he believes the nation has a well-earned reputation in track and field.
“I think every athlete should, even once in their career, run in Jamaica,” he said. “Oregon likes to call themselves the ‘track town’ but I honestly feel it is more Jamaica. Jamaica just has a niche and a vibes to it when it comes to track and field.
“For instance, there is no other track and field community that is as big as Champs (ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships). So to come to Jamaica and run in Jamaica is an experience every athlete should have in their career,” McMaster said.
With a personal best of 47.08 and a silver medal from the Budapest World Athletics Championships last year, McMaster will be a headliner in the men’s 400m hurdles lineup which includes reigning Pan American Games champion Jaheel Hyde.
McMaster said the JAI meet will prove to be an important stepping stone for his preparations for the Paris Olympic Games, where he hopes he can place among the medals.
“There is no pressure because I’ve been there and done that. For me it is just repetition and understanding the type of athlete that I am. For me, the pressure comes from how well I want to execute or how well I want to compete.
“All the training is based on going beyond the limits of myself,” he added. “My chances are as great as anybody’s chances. It comes down to the mental stability. Once you’re in the Olympic final, then you’re physically ready to compete. It is how you execute. You don’t let the crowd get to you and you don’t let the fright of the moment get to you,” McMaster said.
The JAI meet is set to start at 7 p.m. at the National Stadium with the men’s 400m hurdles slated to get underway at 7:40 p.m.
English (US) ·