Russell hunting PBs en route to Tokyo

MVP Track Club athlete Janieve Russell easily won the women’s 400m at the Milo Western Relays at the G.C. Foster College in Spanish Town, St Catherine, on Saturday.

She finished in a time of 53.48 seconds, ahead of Candice McLeod from The University of the West Indies, 55.52s, and Holmwood Technical High School’s Akilia Palmer, 57.04s.

Russell told The Gleaner she was satisfied with her race.

“I started training in November, and I feel that it is a pretty fair and reasonable time. I was expecting to run 54 or 55s,” she said.

“It wasn’t a hard heat, probably I wasn’t pushing myself hard enough, but I’m glad that I came out and ran 53s literally by myself. I hadn’t had any competition. I was just running around all the way.”

Russell also ensured she hydrated properly in the extreme heat on the day.

“I’m not used to this weather because I train early in the morning,” she said.

The flat 400m and 400m hurdles athlete said she is ready to set personal bests (PB) in both of her events.

“The preparation is going very well,” she said. “I’m in a really good space right now, mentally and physically.”

This season, she wants to lower her times.

“My PB in the 400m is 51.1 and I’m aiming to run 50 this year,” she said. “For my hurdles, my best time is 53.4. I’m aiming to go below that.”

Russell also wants to make the team to the Olympic Games that will start on July 31 in Tokyo, Japan.

Next weekend, she will be competing over 400m at The Müller Indoor Grand Prix in Glasgow, Scotland.

-Melena Helias