Clarke ready to regain national 400m hurdles title

AT 20 years old, Roshawn Clarke is Jamaica’s best 400 metres hurdler and, at next week’s JAAA National Senior Championships, the World under-20 record holder will be aiming for his second national senior title.

Clarke, who celebrates his 21st birthday on July 1, was the favourite to go all the way in the event last year, but he was upstaged by Malik James-King in the final and he will be looking to get back to winning ways next week.

With a season’s best 48.20 seconds at the National Stadium while placing second behind Alison dos Santos of Brazil at the first Grand Slam meet — Clarke looks set for a fast time at the championships.

Following a setback at the Miami Grand Slam meet, where he sustained an injury and failed to finish the event, he rebounded at the Racers Grand Prix two weeks ago and showed he was back to full fitness. At the Racers meet, he shook off the challenge of Assinie Wilson to win the event in 48.65.

Wilson, who was third in the event in 2022 and fourth last year, is the second-fastest Jamaican so far this season, with his 48.68 while winning at the National Stadium in March. After his close second-place finish behind Clarke at the Racers Grand Prix, he will be eyeing an upset here.

It has not been a smooth season so far for the defending champion James-King. He was third at the Racers Grand Prix in 49.87 but has a season’s best of 48.69, a time he did when finishing fourth at the Grand Slam meet in Kingston. He will be hoping to find back his rhythm at the right time and retain his national title.

With the very consistent Jaheel Hyde — the 2022 champion and third-place finisher last year — announcing his retirement at the start of the season, there could be an opening here for someone. Among those is Tyrece Hyman, who was fourth at the Racers Grand Prix in 50.09 and has shown remarkable improvement since. At last Saturday’s third JAAA All Comers Meet, he posted a personal best 49.76 to win the event and will be hoping to slip into the top three.

However, the event looks like a three-way battle among Clarke, Wilson, and defending champion James-King. In the end, the classy Clarke should lead them home and pick up his second national senior title.

TOP THREE

1. Roshawn Clarke

2. Malik James-King

3. Assinie Wilson