Look out for Anderson in the 400m

When 2024 rolls around, keep an eye out for D’Andre Anderson, the newcomer who anchored Jamaica to victory in the 4x400 metres heats at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. Anderson, a former Vere Technical High School athlete who now runs for Clemson University, is within reach of sub-45 second territory.

With national champion Sean Bailey ailing with hamstring trouble, Jamaica laid hands on Anderson and he did his job with a controlled leg timed in 45.4 seconds.

“D’Andre has had a very, very special year in my view,” said Clemson sprints and hurdles coach Lennox Graham of the 22-year-old who transferred from Hinds Community College in January.

“He was supposed to go to the Central American and Caribbean Games but had issues. The feedback I got was that he was not ranked so they could not choose him, and he was distraught. He was almost at the point of giving up his season and we encouraged him to come to the National Championships,” Graham recounted.

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) 400m runner-up attacked at the National Championships in Kingston but hit a snag in the final.

“He came with a 45.89 PB (set at the ACC), ran 45.20 in the first round and 45.02 in the second round. It was very unfortunate for him again because we thought the final was going to be at 8 p.m. on that last day,” the coach related, “And I got a call, maybe about, less than two hours before, to say it was going to be 4 o’clock. So he really did not have enough in the tank where he ran 46.16 and was last in the final.”

Anderson moved forward to win the NACAC Under-23 title in 45.56 seconds and, when his time to shine in Budapest came, he didn’t fail. Rusheen McDonald, Jevaughn Powell and Zandrion Barnes gave him a lead with legs timed in 44.7, 45.1 and 44.5 seconds, respectively, and, as he has for Clemson, he ran steadily and held off teams trying to overtake Jamaica. The team won in two minutes 59.82 seconds.

“He wasn’t very happy with his run because he was like, ‘Coach, I forgot to kick’,” Graham said the 2019 Boys and Girls’ Championships Class One 400m finalist told him.

The coach replied with his review of the effort.

“’You did your job. You made sure nobody passed you’, and so I’m extremely proud of that young man and he has a bright future and I know that, as long as life and health spare, and he’s not injured, that he will show up,” Graham predicted.

“I really was impressed with how he handled himself on the highest stage, meaning behind the scenes, practising knowing that you may not get a run but you keep on practising. I was extremely happy with the discipline that he showed,” the coach added.

World Champion Antonio Watson took over as anchor for the final in which Jamaica placed fourth in 2:59.34.