De’Jour Russell ready for Commonwealth Challenge
With the ISSA-GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships now behind him, Calabar High’s sprint hurdler De’Jour Russell will take on the challenge of adjusting to the Olympic height as he prepares for next month’s Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Russell obliterated the Class One boys 110 metres hurdles record on the final day of Champs in 13.10 seconds.
The Class One height, however, is three inches lower than the Olympic height.
Speaking with STAR Sports at his school earlier this week, Russell said that he understands the challenge but he said is ready for it.
“It’s a technical thing and you have to be constantly practicing, but I have training over it (Olympic hurdles) already so it shouldn’t be that bad,” Russell said on Monday.
Russell has a personal best of 13.32 seconds over the Olympic height. He did this last year at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Senior Championships.
“I want to lower that time (13.32) and I believe with the grace of God I can do it,” Russell said.
His selection to the team, placed him among an handful of junior male athletes to have represented the country at a senior competition.
“I have to show respect to the JAAA because at such a young age they have picked me for the team,” Russell, who is 17 years old, said.
He added: “I am really looking forward to the experience that I’m going to get from competing at the Commonwealth Games because I know that it will make me a better athlete.” even though we did not win. There is the Class Three dominance in terms of the sprints, I didn’t coach (Jhevaughn) Matherson this year, but we had Rushaun Rowe coming from Class Two into Class One with 10.40 Terrique Stennent coming from Class Three into Class Two with 10.37 and Dashawn Morris with 45.09. People just need to look at the performances,” Harrison said.