Clarke eyes Rising Star Award after ‘magnificent’ season

After a great 2023 season, national 400-metre hurdles record holder Roshawn Clarke has a chance to add one more topping to the cake.

The 19-year old sensation is among the three finalists for the men’s World Athletics Rising Star Award for the 2023 season.

The former Camperdown High athlete says he is hoping to win but he is mindful of the impact it will have on his career.

“As of now, I can’t say much about it, but if I do win it’s going to impact my career, of course. Being a Rising Star winner comes with a lot of pressure, so my team and I will have that to deal with,” said the Swept Track Club athlete.

Clarke stands a good chance at winning the award. He has had a good season, or as he puts it, “simply magnificent!”

During the season, Clarke equalled then broke the World Under-20 record. He clocked 47.85 seconds at the National Stadium to equal the record then broke it with a 47.34 semi-final run in Budapest at the World Athletics Championships. The 47.34 run also broke Winthrop Graham’s 30-year national record of 47.60 seconds, set in Zurich, Switzerland.

In what was his first World Championships, Clarke was only one place shy of a medal in the final, after putting up a good performance with a time of 48.07 seconds for fourth.

With such great performances, Clarke even had difficulty choosing the highlight of his season.

“I would say the World Under-20 record but that national record hit different,” he said.

After his great season, Clarke is not surprised to be among the three finalists for the Rising Star Award.

“I was expecting it (the nomination) because I had a great season,” he said while adding that it (nomination) gives him more hunger and and he is more determined to stay among the best.

The Carifta Games and national champion said winning the award would mean a lot to him and he could go after bigger goals next season.

“My goal for next season is making that Paris Olympics squad and to bring Team Jamaica all the way. It’s a big dream,” he said.

The other two finalists for the award are American Erriyon Knighton, who was second in the men’s 200m at the World Championships, and Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi, silver medallist in the men’s 800m.

Clarke’s other awards for the season include being named the Austin Sealy Trophy winner as the most outstanding athlete at the 50th Carifta Games in Nassau, Bahamas after retaining his Under-20 boys 400m hurdles title.

The World Under-20 Championships 400m hurdles bronze medallist in 2022 credits God, his team and hard work for his current success.

The winner of the 2023 Men’s Rising Star Award will be selected by an international panel of experts and will be announced on World Athletics’ platforms on December 11.