NCAA women’s 100m silver medallist Kemba Nelson is mentally preparing for the prospect of a brutal Jamaica National trials, which she must advance to secure a place at this year’s World Championships.

On Saturday, the athlete put in a strong display to finish just behind another Caribbean athlete, St Lucia’s Julien Alfred who took the event in 11.02, with Nelson clocking an identical time. 

To secure a spot in the country’s spot to the Eugene Games, the athlete knows she could have to go a good deal faster.  Typically, legendary track stars Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah have accounted for the first two spots.

Recently, however, the two have been joined the upper echelons of world sprinting by Shericka Jackson and the trio top the top three spots at last year’s Olympic Games.  If things go according to expectations, it could leave just one spot on the team up for grabs from a deep field of talented young female athletes.

“My National Trials is coming up where I will be running against way faster women,” Nelson said of the event, which will take place from June 23-26^th.

“My start is good, so I just have to work on my finish and relax, to get my hips up at the bottom end and that will really help. I really hope I make the team."