Gonzales looks to attack record

DAEGU, South Korea:

National 400 metres record holder and IAAF World Champion-ships in Athletics medal candidate Jermaine Gonzales is reporting that he is in much better condition than he was at the National Trials and expressed that he would not be too surprised if that record is lowered here in Daegu.

Meanwhile, Jamaica's other representative in the 400m, Riker Hylton, is looking to have a better showing in the next round after barely advancing form his heat.

Gonzales, who is expected to shoulder the Jamaican challenge in the event, says that he has been doing extremely well in training and that he will be looking to bring this form to the track.

"I have been running PRs in training, so that tells me that I am a bit faster than I was last year, so anything is possible," Gonzales said.

"I am a person that believes in myself and once I am in the final, anything can happen and I'm really determined to go out there and give it my all go for that medal," added the man who is coached by Jamaica's lone quarter-mile gold medallist Bert Cameron.

Gonzales, who finished fourth at the National Trials back in June after complaining about stomach issues and while still recovering from surgery, says that he is in a much better condition now and that he is ready to leave it all on the track.

"My condition is definitely better than it was at trials. As you know, I did knee surgery earlier in the season and missed quite a lot of training but my fitness has come on very well and as long as I'm healthy and in that final, anything can happen," Gonzales added.

'Gonz' won his heat on Sunday in 45.12 and will line-up in the semi-finals at 6 a.m. today ahead of the final scheduled for tomorrow at 7:45 a.m.

Hylton, the national champion, finished fifth in 45.54 in his heat, qualifying to the semis as one of the fastest losers.

"I didn't know the field was going to move that fast seeing that it was the first round but, unfortunately, the pace kind of left me at the start, so I ended up with fifth," said Hylton.

"In a first round, normally I would say that's a satisfactory time because when you reach on to the other rounds, it's normally more intense so I'm pretty pleased with that time, it's not too bad, I just wish my placing was better," he added.