Allodin Fothergill

Allodin Fothergill, one of the fastest Jamaicans over 400 metres this year, is beaming with confidence ahead of this evening's start of the one-lap event at the 2009 National Senior Athletic Championships at the National Stadium.

On the IAAF's top list, Fothergill is ranked as the 27th fastest man overall (45.44) this year and second in Jamaica, only behind Dwight Mullings (44.98), who will miss the trials.

Fothergill believes he has something to prove at the meet.

'Didn't allow me to run'

The student at University of Maryland Eastern Shore, said: "For the past two years, they didn't allow me to run in the final of the 4x400m, so this time I will have to go out there to win it."

A finalist at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing, China, Fothergill said he has learnt a lot over the past year.

"I think I can win because the Olympics and the NCAA have done a lot for me ... I learned how to run with the fastest guys," explained the former G.C. Foster College and Eltham High student.

Lansford Spence, Michael Blackwood, Sanjay Ayre and Ricardo Chambers, all past national champions, along with Jermaine Gonzales, Leford Green, Annsert Whyte and Dewayne Barrett, are the other top conteders for the 2009 400m crown.