Photo: Roxroy Cato on his way to winning heat one of the semifinals of the 400m hurdles at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Athletics Championships on the weekend.
The reigning bronze medalist from the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Roxroy Cato, ran a season’s best time 48.96 seconds to secure third spot at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships on the weekend. The USA based hurdler was nothing less than a satisfied campaigner and immediately started counting his blessings, in making the cut for another senior team and a consecutive Olympic teams.
“It feels very good. I am very pleased with the times. It’s another season’s best and to walk away off the track strong and healthy, it’s always good,” Cato told reporters.
One foot through the gate, that’s how the former Green Island High School, athlete confidently expressed his journey towards a great performance when he touches the track at the appointed time.
“The main objective was just to come down here and to make the team, seeing that I already made the standard. I am kinda now working on the technical part of my race and getting the execution right. Once I get the execution right, the time will drop easily,” he explained.
At the 2012 London Olympic Games, Cato ran 50.22 seconds to finish fifth, bowing out in the heats of the event. He is now seeking to redeem himself from that sub-par showing and setting his objective on a spot in the final at this year’s staging of the games.
Last year Cato clocked 48.72 – the third fastest time he has ever recorded, to finish on the podium in Toronto behind USA’S Bershawn Jackson and his now training partner and current world leader Johnny Dutch. He is looking to again stand on the podium at a major championship.
“You know definitely my main aim is to make the final and once I make the final I have a chance. The last time I didn’t make it out the first round. So the objective this time is to make it out of the first round and take it one round at a time and get to the final.”
Despite running the 400m hurdles for a few years now, the 28 year old Cato, thinks he is still learning the art of becoming a champion hurdler. He was quick to point out that like wine, things will get better with age, hence he thinks his best is yet to come.
After his unfortunate disqualification at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, he has gained a wealth of knowledge and is still yearning to learn more as he goes.
“The 400 hurdles is like a veteran race. So it’s like the more you run it, the more experienced you get and you learn from each race. I feel like am learning each race how to execute and to run my own race.”
Cato tips his hat to national junior record holder, young Jaheel Hyde, who pipped him for second spot at the trials. He spoke highly of the quality that the current world junior leader showcases each time he sets out to compete.
“Jaheel is a fine talent. He is going to run very fast. I am not surprised with the times he runs. If I see him run 48.0, I won’t be surprised because he is that talented.”
The 19 year old Hyde who qualified for his first Olympic Games will also be participating at the World Junior Games in Poland later this month.
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