Andrenette Knight’s focus has never been sharper. The 29-year-old hurdler booked her place on Jamaica’s team to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after finishing second in the women’s 400m hurdles final at the Jamaica National Championships on Saturday night at the National Stadium in Kingston.
Knight clocked 54.52 seconds to finish behind veteran Rushell Clayton, who won in 53.81, with Shiann Salmon taking the third and final spot in 54.65. All three women achieved the qualifying standard for the World Championships, but for Knight, the journey to Tokyo has been about far more than times. It has been about execution, maturity, and intent.
“I’m very confident in what I’m doing this season. I’m right there. I’m ready to run a PR. I’m ready to run in the top 53s,” she said after the race. “It’s just a matter of the right time, putting the race together on that day. I’m still working towards that.”
Knight’s progression throughout 2025 supports her conviction. After opening her outdoor hurdles campaign with 54.08 at Grand Slam Track Miami in May, she steadily lowered her times through elite competitions. She finished second at the Rabat Diamond League meet on May 25 in 53.90, and just two weeks later, delivered a season-best 53.67 to win at the Golden Gala in Rome — her fastest time since the 2023 World Championships.
In between, she posted solid efforts of 54.86 in Philadelphia (May 31) and 54.63 in the heats of the Jamaican Championships (June 26), before securing her spot with Saturday’s runner-up finish.
“I think I’m just more intentional when I go out there to race this season,” Knight explained. “I’m really focused on what I need to do — the targets, where I need to set myself up, and where I need to push. It’s just a matter of the race plan, to be honest.”
While she admitted that the national final may have been one of her weaker executions, the bigger picture remains encouraging. With three sub-54 clockings on the season and a spot secured for Tokyo, Knight is trending in the right direction — and she knows it.
“We’re going to continue to work. The goal is to get better each and every race, and we have been getting better. I’m happy to be on the team — and that is good.”