Clarke focusing on ‘execution’ in 400m hurdles final

In his second major global championship final, under-20 400-metre hurdles world record holder Roshawn Clarke is more focused on the execution of a perfect race rather than any pressure to win Jamaica’s first medal in the event in 20 years.

Clarke will be the lone Jamaican in today’s men’s 400m hurdles final which gets under way at 2:45 p.m. Jamaica time at the Stade de France. Clarke’s teammates Jaheel Hyde and national champion Malik James-King could not join him after not advancing from their semi-finals on Wednesday.

Clarke finished fourth at the World Championships final in Budapest last year in his major global championship debut, completing a rookie professional campaign that saw him claim the World under-20 record as well as becoming the fastest Jamaican in history.

While his semi-final was not the best race he has ever had, he focused on not putting any pressure on himself regarding medals, but more on getting his execution right.

“It wasn’t the best but I am in the final and I am just moving from there. With my speed and strength, I can fight as best as possible to get that medal, but I am not putting any pressure on myself, I’m just trying to get my execution right,” Clarke said.

Clarke’s quest is not only for his first major global senior medal in his Olympic debut but also to be the first Jamaican since Danny McFarlane to win a medal in the event. That was in August 2004 in Athens, just a month after Clarke was born.

Hyde believes he has the chance to put it together as he represents both himself and James-King in the event, the latter suffering an unfortunate clip at the last hurdle preventing him from joining Clarke in the final.

“I was right on the line watching. I mean, that is the unlucky thing about hurdles. A similar thing happened to me last Olympics. I just told him that it is part of the game,” Hyde said. “But I am glad that Roshawn was able to carry the country on his back for us. I am sure that he will do well. I think that there is a medal for him here. He just has to put together the proper race.”

Clarke will have to deal with the likes of defending Olympic champion Karsten Warholm of Norway, former World champion Alison Dos Santos of Brazil, and American world leader Rai Benjamin, for a spot on the podium.