Clarke set to successfully defend 400m hurdles title

ROSHAWN Clarke has improved tremendously since winning the World Under-20 400 metres hurdles title in 2022. He is now the country's top male athlete in the event and he appears set to win his second national title at the June 27-30 JAAA/Puma National Junior and Senior Championships.

The 19-year-old Clarke, who turns 20 on July 1, upstaged former champion Jaheel Hyde to win his first national senior title last year and went on to finish fourth in the event at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. At that meet, he broke the World Under-20 record while posting a personal best 47.34 seconds in the semifinals.

Clarke has been the country's fastest in the event in 2024 with a season's best 48.11 at a Diamond League meet in Los Angeles in mid-May. A sub-48 seconds look likely when he competes at the 'Trials'.

Malik James-King, with a season's best 48.39, and Roxroy Cato with 48.42 are the other Jamaicans under 49 seconds this season and both will be in a keen battle for the next two automatic spots for the Paris Olympic Games. James-King will be hoping for redemption here as he was disqualified from the event last year.

Hyde, the 2021 and 2022 champion, will be hoping to upstage the top three. He has a season's best of 49.48 and is the sixth fastest Jamaican in the event this year. He will need to lower his time as he also has the likes of the vastly improved Assinie Wilson with a season's best of 49.08 and Javed Jones, with 49.44, to contend with in this event.

TOP THREE

1. Roshawn Clarke

2. Roxroy Cato

3. Malik James-King