Brady has ambitious goal for 400m hurdles
Holmwood Technical’s Annalice Brady has set herself a massive target going into this year’s Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association/GraceKennedy Girls’ Athletics Championships set for March 28 to April 1 at the National Stadium.
She wants to achieve something that no high school girl has ever done — to run 56 seconds in the 400m hurdles event.
The very ambitious Brady, who is vice-captain of the Holmwood team, said her goal this year is to break former St Jago High star athlete Melaine Walker’s Champs record of 56.55 seconds set in 2001.
However, for the 19-year-old Brady to break this record, it means that she will have to shave over two seconds off her personal best time of 58.99 seconds.
But the versatile athlete, who will also compete in the 100m hurdles at Champs, said that she is in excellent shape going into the championships.
“I want to run 56 seconds and I know that it is possible for me to do it,” said Brady. “But I just have to believe in myself that I can do it, but I just have to go out and execute on the day. I am also a very confident person who always strives for the best and so I am preparing to go out and do best for my school, family and friends at the championships,” Brady said.
She is expected to face strong competition from Edwin Allen High’s Tonyan Beckford and Hydel High’s pair of Alliah Baker and Oneika McAnuff, whom she all defeated in the final of the girls Class One 400m hurdles at the Central Championships last month.
Brady said if she is not able to break the record at the championships, then she is hoping to secure a personal best time and help her school to improve on last year’s fourth place at this year’s championships.
“For this Girls’ Championships, also, I am hoping to go out and to get a personal best in my event this season if I don’t break the record because I have been working very hard in training and I know that once I follow my coach’s instructions then I will do well at the championships,” she said.
“I think that the team can do exceptionally well this year because based on our performances at the Central Champs I know that we can finish much higher in the standings.
“We have a very strong team and we are expecting everyone to go out there and run a personal best for our school because we want to finish in the top three for Champs,” Brady said.