Two-time World Championships medalist Rushell Clayton produced a gutsy performance to retain her women’s 400m hurdles title at the Jamaica National Trials on Sunday, June 29 at the National Stadium.
Clayton came into the championships with a season-best of 54.31 and just three hurdle races under her belt, she timed her run to perfection clocking a season’s best 53.81 seconds.
She edged out Andrenette Knight (54.52s) and Shiann Salmon (54.65s) to seal victory. All three athletes secured their spots for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo.
However, for Clayton, this wasn’t just a win on the track, it was a personal triumph born out of resilience.
“National champion again. Oh, that feels good,” she said moments after the race, her face lit up with emotion. “To have that to your name, it’s a very great feeling.”
The Setback
Clayton suffered an untimely injury that threatened to derail her campaign. She had only recently returned to full training in late November last year, but her body wasn’t responding. Then came the injury at her season opener.
“Oh Lord, yes,” she responded when asked about the setback. “Going into Grand Slams, I actually started training late November, but I wasn’t feeling good. And to get hurt in that first meet, I was really heartbroken. I was really heartbroken.”
It wasn’t the first time injury had disrupted her path. In 2021, a leg injury sidelined her for most of the year, and although she returned in 2022 to finish sixth at the World Championships and fourth at the Commonwealth Games, the mental toll lingered.
“I told myself I wouldn’t allow myself to drop into that ditch that I did in 2021,” Clayton reflected. “I wanted to heal. So the doctor said to take some time off. I took the time off, and I am slowly back in training, doing what I need to do.”
The comeback was gradual, and far from ideal. She admitted her rhythm in practice was off, her stride inconsistent. But she kept pushing, determined to find her race-day form.
“I wasn’t getting anything stride-wise in practise,” she said. “But I kept pushing… and to be able to execute it on the day, that feels really good.”
Her goal coming into the championships wasn’t necessarily to win, but to find herself again.
“I wanted to finish in the top three and I wanted to feel myself again,” she said. “And I think I actually felt myself rolling today. And I love that.”