Clayton expects fast 400m hurdles at JAI

National 400 metres hurdler Rushell Clayton is anticipating a fast time at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational (JAI) meet tomorrow as she is set to line up against a stellar field of athletes in the one-lap hurdles event.

Clayton will face off against compatriots Janieve Russell, Shiann Salmon and Andrenette Knight, the American trio of former world record holder Dalilah Muhammad, Shamier Little and Anna Cockrell, with Panamanian Gianna Woodruff completing the field.

Clayton, a two-time World Athletics Championships bronze medallist, said she expects fireworks from a field which boasts world-class talents across all lanes. For her, the field provides an opportunity for her to gain valuable experience against top athletes in her race preparations.

“It looks like a World Championship finals,” she said. “I am pretty excited. I’m looking forward to working on my stride pattern. Saturday, it’s all about executing my strides. I’ve never really had a race plan and, this year, I’m working forward to executing. That’s all that’s on my mind, executing a good race.”

She added, “I know it will be fast, because these ladies are world-class athletes.”

According to Clayton, tomorrow’s meet will be a test of focus for her and her new stride pattern in the 400m hurdles.

She explained, while racing in front of the Jamaican crowd is a special feeling, she will not be focusing on the crowd nor her competitors for the full length of the event. Her focus, she said, will be solely on executing her perfect race.

“When I’m running, I’m in a zone. I’m not hearing anyone and I’m not seeing anyone. If I’m hearing or seeing you, then I’m really not zoned in, and I plan on zoning in. Afterwards, I’ll look in the stands but, normally, I don’t when I go out on track. As I said, I’m looking forward to just trying my new stride pattern and executing the race.

“At the end of the day, the persons who execute the best get the medals. So it’s going to take me zoning in and executing properly.”

The JAI meet is set to start at 7 p.m. at the National Stadium tomorrow, with the women’s 400m hurdles scheduled for a 7:35 p.m. start.

Other top athletes down for the meet include top American sprinter Christian Coleman, Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith and Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Matthew Hudson-Smith.