Zandrion Barnes has Olympic ambitions

WITH A breakout 2023 season under his belt, 400-metre runner Zandrion Barnes has his sights set on the Olympic Games. On the evidence of last season, it may not just be wishful thinking.

The GC Foster College student-athlete improved for the fifth season in a row, with the 2023 increment accelerating him from 45.89 to 44.90 seconds at the Racers Grand Prix. He reached the semis of the World Championships 400 in Budapest, Hungary, and helped Jamaica to fourth in the 4x400 relay.

Antonio Watson won the flat 400 and though injury held National Champion Sean Bailey to fifth. The overall performance earmarked the one-lap event as a bright spot once again for Jamaica. Altogether, five Jamaican men – Rusheen McDonald, Watson, Bailey, Reheem Hayles, and Barnes - broke the still-significant 45-second barrier.

Sadly, Bailey couldn’t run the 4x400 metres.

Coached by Maurice Wilson at Angels in Spanish Town, Barnes knows what he must do to advance.

“It’s more about hard work, mostly listening to my coach and taking as much instruction. But this season, everything is going well so far,” he reasoned at last Saturday’s Fuller-Anderson Development meet at his home track.

Unchallenged in most of his local races, Barnes’ true potential was unearthed in relays. In Philadelphia, at the world-renowned Penn Relays, the former Manchester High School footballer uncorked a 44.5-second leg to accelerate GC Foster into fourth, and in Budapest, he was on the gas again. The slim but speedy Barnes did another 44.5 in the heats and managed a 44.9 in the final, where Jamaica placed fourth.

The only Jamaican to produce a faster relay run in Budapest was World Champion Watson, who closed Jamaica’s effort in the final with a 44.2 circuit.

Even though Bailey’s absence weakened the team, the relay was a special moment for Barnes. “I gave it my all,” he recounted, “despite we weren’t a contender, but I gave my best.”

That’s all behind him now.

“I’m just trying my best so that I can medal at the Olympic Games, stay in good condition, good health,” the ever-smiling 400-metre man tabled.

Asked how he will reach his goal, he answered, “Just train hard, work hard, stay healthy, put God first.”

The 22-year-old and Wilson are whittling away at areas for improvement. “We’re working on a lot of things, you know, most of the weak areas,” said the man who trains alongside 2017 and 2019 World Championships 400-metre finalist Demish Gaye.

“We’re enhancing on that, and it’s so good so far,” Barnes concluded.