Photo: Jaheel Hyde (centre) and Johnny Dutch of the USA competing at the Racers Grand Prix Meet earlier this month. Also in photo is Javier Culson of Puerto Rico.
The 2014 World Junior champion in the 400 metres hurdles and the 2013 World Youth champion in the 110 metres hurdles, Jaheel Hyde, has been one of the top and most consistent Jamaica 400m Hurdler this year, and is among the nation’s contenders for the London World Championships which include the 2017 NCAA Bronze medalist and top Jamaican Kemar Mowatt.
Hyde ran a personal best of 48.52 seconds at the Jamaica International Invitation last month and will once again show his championship mettle in the battle to over coming Mowatt in that race.
Mowatt, the former St. Elizabeth Technical student, now competing for University of Arkansas, has run well all season long and enters this weekend’s trial with a time of 48.49 seconds to be ranked ninth on the IAAF 2017 list.
Either of them may win, assuming both athletes show up in good shape. The first to line will grab their first national senior crown, but both should book there ticket to London.
Annsert Whyte 50.18 seconds, looks a shadow of himself so far this season, but the reigning national champion and Olympic finalist may spring a surprise on the two leading contenders as he vies for his third World Championship team. Based on the form of the two younger athletes it may take him close to his personal best time of 48.07 to defend his title.
Roxroy Cato may need to better his 49.35 seconds season best to make the top three and a second trip to a World Championship Games. His personal best stands at 48.48 seconds.
Andre Clarke (49.24 seconds), the third ranked Jamaican should put in a decent showing, and if he can get below 49 seconds may secure a World Championship berth to London.
Former 800m runner, turned one lap hurdler, Ricardo Cunningham, has a personal best of 49.55 seconds and will try to be amongst the spoilers on the weekend. Veteran Leford Green should also be in the line for this year’s National Championship.
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