McPherson to face big challenge for national title
Published:Wednesday | June 15, 2022 | 12:13 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
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THE NATIONAL Senior Championships inside the National Stadium from June 23-26 is set to throw up some interesting competition ahead of the World Championship in Eugene next month. One of the races that might be most exciting in terms of who is...
THE NATIONAL Senior Championships inside the National Stadium from June 23-26 is set to throw up some interesting competition ahead of the World Championship in Eugene next month.
One of the races that might be most exciting in terms of who is crowned the national champion is the women’s 400 hurdles.
The country has done well over the years at major championships in the 4x400 metres, but this time around, the ladies will be hoping for good results in the individual event and a battle royale is expected for the top-three individual spots.
A year ago, 33-year-old Stephenie Ann McPherson turned back her rivals with a brilliant performance, winning the national championships ahead of the Olympics in 49.61 seconds.
Despite a lukewarm season, so far, McPherson still has a real chance at back-to-back titles. With a season best 51.37 seconds, she is yet to attain the qualifying standard of 51.35, but after a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics in the event and third earlier this year at the World Indoor Championships in Serbia, she seems to find a way to do it when it matters most.
After a second-place finish in 49.91 a year ago, Candice McLeod is undoubtedly the most improved Jamaican in the event. Inspired by her fifth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics last year, the former Papine High athlete, with a season’s best 50.38 done a few weeks ago in Ostrava when finishing second could be the one to beat here.
A year ago after good performances at the NCAA Division One Outdoor Championships, former Hydel High athlete Charokee Young and Stacy Willams, formerly of St Elizabeth Technical High, were expected to do very well but Williams ended fourth and Young eighth at the championships.
Both have been in even better form this season, especially Young who finished second last Saturday in the event at the NCAA Championships for Texas A&M University in 50.65 seconds.
Ranked number two in the world with a season and personal best 49.87, the 22- year-old Young, who normally finishes strongly, will be hoping for better returns this time around.
Williams, competing for the University of Texas, Austin could only manage fifth in 51.13 seconds at this year’s NCAAs, but will be hoping to go close to her personal best of 50.18 seconds to clinch a top-three finish.
Another NCAA finalist in Kavia Francis of Baylor University and formerly of Manchester High and Holmwood Technical, who finished eighth and who has a season’s best 51.15, will also be hoping for a good performance.
Roneisha McGregor, who was third last year, Junelle Bromfield, Tovea Jenkins and Tiffany James are yet to attain the qualifying standard but will be hoping to peak at the right time.
Despite the collegiate athletes over the years failng to deliver at these championships after a busy indoor and outdoor season, things could be different this time around and Young and Williams should be battling in earnest with McLeod and McPherson for the top-three individual spots, with the vastly improved McLeod holding a slight edge. Young and McPherson should round out the three.