Rusheen McDonald has taken a new lease on life. His goal this year is to run another sub 44 seconds in the 400m as he did in 2015 when he became the national record holder over 400m (43.93). McDonald looked at least five years younger as he posted 20.66 (-1.0w) to outdo the younger rivals at the JAAA All-Comers Meet #1 at the National Stadium.
Rusheen McDonald wins 200 – JAAA All Comers Meet #1 2023
“I’ve been training much harder,” McDonald told athleticsja.org. “I focus on myself these days and put in the work. I’m older now.”
The 30 yr old – perhaps the least heralded of Jamaica’s stars – set the National record at the World Championships in Beijing, China in 2015. Even with the win, he was not totally happy.
“Today was not a good day for me,” he opined. “My PB is 20.5 but I know I can run 20.1 or 20.2. I have it in me,” he opined.
McDonald, who is affectionately called “Big Boy”, has a simple motto – by the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread – will prove a hard nut to crack this season as he hunts more bread. He has several significant medals tucked away including silver at the World Championships in 2013 and silver at the 2016 Olympics, both in the 4x400m relay.
Another star who took time out to chat was the world-rated discus thrower, Fedrick Dacres. He threw 63.53m and pinned the subpar performance to a ‘bad day’.
“I just had a bad day today,” Fedrick Dacres sits next to long time Coach Julian Robinson.
“I just had a bad day today,” said the multiple national champion. “Conditions were a little off. The ring was a bit wet, and I had a bad day.” No other complaint from the man.
Janieve Russell took the 400m in 52.58. Former top intermediate hurdler Kaliese Carter, formerly Spencer, continues to work herself back to fitness, posting 55.28 to win her heat.
Internationally, the most high-profile result was in the women’s 100m at the Doha Diamond League where Shericka Jackson, who posted a world-leading 10.82 in the 100m recently, was beaten by American Sha’Carri Richardson. The winner posted 10.76 to Jackson’s 10.85.
At the Atlanta City games, Oblique Seville posted 9.99 to win the 100m, with another Jamaican Ryiem Forde setting a personal record of 10.07 for 4th.