Joshua St Clair is planning a breakout season in 2021.
St Clair was in fine form in 2017, earning boys' under-20 400 metres bronze at the Carifta Games, in Curacao. Just 18 at the time, he went on to finish fifth in the National Open Championship men's one-lap final in a personal best 46.13 seconds.
The
Queen's Royal College old boy was an unused reserve on the Trinidad and Tobago 4x400m squad that struck IAAF World Championship gold in London, England.
St Clair enrolled at Meridian Community College in Mississippi, USA, and gave glimpses of his potential during the 2018 season, clocking a 200m personal best of 20.91 seconds and a 400m season's best of 46.65. In 2019, however, he was well short of his best.
"Nobody knew that Covid -19 would have happened," St Clair told the Express.
"But to me, this is just another chance to prepare for the Olympics and have a successful 2021 season. This year, 2020 was more of a comeback year for me due to injury in 2019, and I was doubting myself to be back in shape."
St Clair transferred to University of Alabama, and competed for the school at indoor meets in January and February, this year. In his final outing before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the 2020 US collegiate season to be aborted, St Clair clocked 47.85 seconds for 19th spot overall in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Indoor Championship men's 400m event.
"Covid-19 has affected my training and first semester at Alabama, and all my 2020 season had to come to an early end. Also, all access to the facilities were closed and all my classes moved to online.
"The restrictions in school did not ease up. The facilities were under lockdown.
"I will not be competing again in 2020," the 21-year-old quartermiler continued, "but focusing on my areas that are weak and getting back in race shape this off-season."
St Clair wants to be a world-beater in 2021. "My goals are to run sub-45, win SEC and Nationals (NCAA), represent my country in the 2021 Olympics in the 400 and 4x4, and graduate next year.
"I pray to God things would be back to normal. We should look at this as a second chance to strengthen our bodies so younger people like us could progress and have a successful season," St Clair ended, "and the Olympic Committee (TTOC) would carry a big team to the Tokyo Olympics."
