I’m one of the best – Bloomfield

Doha, Qatar:

After a mild effort in the preliminary round of the Men's 400m, Akeem Bloomfield says that he is ready prove that he is one of the best quarter-milers in the world.

The former Kingston College athlete became one of the leading men in the event when he ran 43.94 seconds in 2018.

That same season, he further solidified that when he posted 19.81 seconds in the 200m to join his contemporary, Michael Norman, as 400m runners in this era who have broken the 44 and 20 seconds barriers in the 400m and 200m distances.

But his season has been ambivalent as he has only been able to run under 45 seconds two times.

But the 6'4" athlete is feeling confident again and is ready to prove that he is one of the best in the world over the distance.

"I think I am one of the best in the world and I am going to prove that," Bloomfield said.

The 21-year-old showed glimpses of his old self in his last two races before the Championships when he posted 44.67 in his last race before the season.

I Felt okay

Yesterday he only needed 45.34 seconds to qualify for today's semi-final, which is schedule for 12:35 p.m. Jamaica time. Bloomfield placed second behind Trinidad and Tobago's Machel Cedenio.

"I felt okay out there," he said. "It's the first round so the aim was just to qualify."

Bloomfield, whose bid to run the 200m at National Trials failed, was chosen to run the event here after Terry Thomas and Javon Francis, who finished second and third respectively at Trials, did not achieve the qualifying standard.

National champion Demish Gaye was also comfortable in his heat. He posted 45.08 to finish behind the favourite to win the gold medal, Michael Norman, who ran 45.00 seconds flat.

National record holder Rusheen McDonald was not as comfortable as he finished sixth in 46.21 seconds and crashed out of the event.

"I haven't raced in a while and I felt rusty but it was disappointed," McDonald said.