Clayton boosted by 2019 success

World Championship bronze medallist Rushell Clayton only had two weeks to bask in her achievements before getting back on track. Nonetheless, the RJRGLEANER Sportswoman of the Year nominee is determined to build on the platform created last season, as she steps up her preparation for the 2020 campaign.

Although she returned to training in late October from the short break, she has been adjusting to the recognition that has come with her success last season and among the things that she did not anticipate was her nomination for RJRGLEANER Sportswoman of the Year award.

“My initial reaction was wow! Because I didn’t expect something like this,” Clayton told The Gleaner.

It is the first nomination for the former Frome and Vere Technical student, who is among a field of nominees dominated by track and field athletes, headlined by four-time 100m world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Elaine Thompson Herah, Danniel Thomas-Dodd, Natoya Goule, Danielle Williams, Shericka Jackson, Shanieka Ricketts and Olympic swimmer Alia Atikinson round off the nine finalists, who will vie for the honour at the RJRGLEANER Sports Foundation National Sportsman and Sportswoman awards gala, which takes place on January 17.

Morale boost

Clayton, 27, said that being nominated has given her a morale boost, as she prepares for the march towards this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“It feels extremely good. It’s always good to feel nominated among great people such as Shelly-Ann and the other ladies,” Clayton said. “It’s a good feeling. It boosts my confidence for the upcoming season because if I can be nominated among great people like this, this means there is a lot more in store for Rushell.”

It was only three years prior that she was contemplating stepping away from the sport for good, but her 2019 season has been her breakthrough year after her bronze medal performance in the 400m hurdles, where she established a lifetime best of 53.74 seconds. It was the fastest 400m hurdles final in history with America’s Dahliah Muhammad, who lowered her own world record to 52.16 seconds taking the win.

Clayton also joined Deon Hemmings, Melaine Walker, and Ristananna Tracey as the only women who have won medals in the event for Jamaica.

As the page turns to the 2020 season, Clayton’s training has intensified and she says that she is relishing the beginning of the new season with the nomination giving her even more fuel to push for her ambitions.

“[The nomination] has boosted my confidence in so many ways possible. Right now I am focusing on being healthy and I am super excited for the upcoming season,” she said.

Although Clayton has outlined maintaining her fitness for the season as a top priority, she is hoping to continue her own growth and is looking forward to making her Olympic debut in Tokyo this year.

“It’s all about growth for me. It’s all about moving from where I was. I have to set goals and targets but mainly it’s about growing and getting better from where I was,” Clayton said.