Usain Bolt is better known for the 100 and 200 meter dash rather than the 400 meters. However, the Jamaican superstar used to run the quarter in his youth days. Those age group records are in jeopardy everytime South Florida sprinter Jamal Walton hits the track. Already with Bolt's U17 record in toe, the fifteen year old broke his U16 record of 47.17 this weekend at the CAC World Youth Championships in Mexico. Running for the Cayman Islands National track team, Walton clocked a personal best of 47.01 seconds. He says despite having to catch three flights to get to the meet, the race came easily.
"First, I flew to the Cayman Island to meet up with my team. Then we went to Cuba, Panama, and finally arrived in Mexico at like 5:00 a.m. The 400 meter dash came easy to me. We ran the prelims around 8:00 a.m. and the finals were at 11:00. It's cold up there so that's why my prelims time was not my best, but the strategy was take off and hit another gear for the finish.
He clocked a time of 47.01 to beat the rest of the international field in the U18 division and break Bolt's record. His time would have placed him third in the U20 race. Walton, who competed for Miami Gardens XPress Track Club and did not race in an FHSAA sactioned meet this year believes he can run 46.5 or even lower and is getting used to the high level of competition.
"I am getting use to these international events because the Cayman National Team invites me everywhere with them so I get to see everything around me. When I broke Usain Bolt's record in Mexico I didn't really feel anything because I know I was going get it. I already have his other record so I wasn't really surprised, but my teammates were."
Walton also finished 9th in the 200 at the CAC World Youth Championships and will represent his country at the 2014 World Youth Championships July 22 - July 27 at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. He says it means a lot to make the team and compete in the biggest stage of his young track and field career.
"It means a lot and I'll know everyone from CARIFTA that is representing their country as well. I'm going to work on my finish and keep in shape over these next two weeks. It is going be my biggest race of all time in my experience in track and field. My goal is to get the record and bring back the gold medal."
More Coverage
- Jamal's Athlete Profile
- Article: Watch Jamal Walton Breaks Usain Bolt's U17 400m Record At CARIFTA
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Article: Walton on pace to shatter records (7/14 via Cayman Compass)
