‘You can count me out all you want’
Hyde still believed in Olympic dream despite poor form
Published:Tuesday | July 2, 2024 | 12:08 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
HEADING INTO the JAAA/PUMA National Junior and Senior Championships with a season’s best of 49.48 seconds in the 400-metre hurdles and not in the greatest form, many thought former Commonwealth Games silver medallist and three-time national champion Jaheel Hyde was not among those down for a spot at the Paris Olympics.
However, in the final, Hyde produced 48.35 and out-dipped Assinie Wilson (48.36) to secure his spot. Hyde said he was always confident about securing one of the three spots on offer.
“I haven’t been having the best season, but I know I’m a finals athlete, and I just needed to get myself to the finals and then God will take care of the rest. I made the statement, ‘Don’t count me out’ because despite not running good throughout the season, I still managed to pull it off,” said Hyde.
According to the former World Junior champion, a defeat to Roxroy Cato in the qualifying rounds added fuel to the fire.
“In the heat, the guy that defeated me celebrated and I was like, ‘W’hat the hell was this? So things like that fuel me, and while two guys in the final were better than me, the aim was to get to the Olympics. I did that, so it’s just work from now,” said Hyde.
The event was won by Malik James-King in 47.24, and according to Hyde, he is aware that in order to rub shoulders with the best in field, he will need to lower his personal best of 48.03.
“We have another 47-second kid. The rest of the world is at 46. I’m at mid-48, so I’ll have to move some mountains. It’s just to get in the right moment, and then the sky is the limit.”
Despite those mountains Hyde needs to move, he believes that a successful Paris Olympics is just a month away.
“You can count me out all you want. Kudos to you. I know what I’m capable of.”