A year delayed but not deterred
Hudson finally gets World Championships moment in Jamaican colours
Published:Thursday | August 24, 2023 | 12:08 AM
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY:
HE HAD to wait a year, but two-time national 200-metre champion Andrew Hudson got his moment in the Jamaican colours at the World Athletics Championships.
But he wants more.
Getting back to full fitness, Hudson is bullish about making his first World Championships final.
Hudson qualified for the semi-finals, finishing second in 20.25 seconds behind defending champion Noah Lyles, who won in 20.05. Hudson made the switch from the United States to represent Jamaica – the land of his father’s birth – last year and won his first National Championships in Kingston.
But he would not make the plane to Oregon that year because the transfer of allegiance would not have been approved in time for him to compete.
More than 12 months later, Hudson says that he is proud to have finally donned the colours on the big stage.
“I mean I am super happy. My first World Championships, and it’s amazing. I came here with the goal to make it to the finals, and now I am on that path. I knew who was going to be up front. So the ideal position was to take top three and make it through the rounds,” Hudson said. I was walking by the crowd, with the Jamaican flags and getting high fives. It was definitely fun.”
Hudson’s first competition in the Jamaican colours was last year at the NACAC Championships in the Bahamas, where he won the 200-metre title in 19.87 seconds. Looking back on that moment, Hudson said it helped shape his focus.
“I just got reminded a few days ago that it was a year ago. That gave me some confidence. I was denied last year, and I was still able to go out there and lower my personal best. So hopefully, I can replicate that,” Hudson said.
It has not been an ideal season for Hudson, who did not race for two months before the National Championships in July because of injury.
Now back to fitness, Hudson says getting race-ready was the goal and believes that he has more to give in today’s semi-finals.
“I knew I wasn’t in a position this year to train because I had missed so much but at the same time, try to get some races. I am happy that it was a decent race. I felt good. I feel calm and comfortable, and I think I have a lot more to turn on,” Hudson said.