Tia-Adana Belle continued her strong 2025 season with a hard-fought victory in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Racers Grand Prix in Kingston on Saturday night, clocking 55.74 to hold off Jamaica’s Sanique Meshika Walker (55.78) and the USA’s Bianca Stubler (56.52).
The performance was another sign that the Barbadian Olympian is finding her rhythm again after several seasons marked by inconsistency in training, though she remained active on the international circuit.
“Just trying to execute all my calls,” Belle said post-race. “Trying to do it the way I have them. I didn’t do them all perfectly, but, hopefully, it's OK. It’s been a long couple of years not training consistently, so I’m just happy to be out here again.”
Saturday’s result adds to a growing string of consistent performances this season. Belle ran a season’s best 55.10 at the Josef Odložil Memorial in Prague on June 2, following a 55.18 finish at the Canarias Invitational in Tenerife on May 31. Before that, she recorded 56.01 in Zagreb (May 24), 56.09 at the Drake Relays (April 26), and opened her season with 56.60 in Gainesville on April 18 before returning to the same venue to post 55.79 at the Pepsi Florida Relays two weeks later.
“Training’s been going really good. Of course, there are rough days, but I’ve pushed past them,” she said. “I’m in a really good place training-wise, and I’m a happy athlete. Now I’m just waiting for it all to click—on God’s time. I’m really enjoying the process.”
Belle credits her renewed focus and results to the trust she’s placed in her coach.
“I believe so much in my coach and our training. If I don’t have it now, then I just don’t have it. But he knows what he’s doing, so there’s no point being too nervous. He told me before I left home to just have fun. So that’s my goal—to have fun.”
She’s taking a patient, coach-led approach to the rest of the season.
“He knows best. I prayed for the perfect camp, and I believe I’ve been placed in the right one, so I’m just trusting Coach Holly right now. If he says jump, I’m jumping.”
For Belle, representing Barbados remains a powerful motivator.
“Barbados is only 166 square miles, so having people at the Olympics—making the semifinals in back-to-back Games—is huge. It shows the kids that even though we’re small, we’re mighty. There's a little danger in us! I love that.”
Next on her radar could be a return home to compete at the Barbados Grand Prix on July 5.
“Yes, I’ve been entered in the 400. We’ll know in a couple of days exactly what’s going on, but for now, I’ve been entered.”
With five sub-56-second performances already this year and growing confidence, Belle is proving that consistency—and faith in the process—is paving the way back to her best.