Spence - File

Stretched out on the cycle track after his 400m heat last night and breathing harder than he would have liked at the JAAA/SVL National Senior Championships inside the National Stadium, Jermaine Gonzales was a spent force.

The national record holder was put to the test and it dawned on him and everyone else inside the venue that this may not be the walkover that everyone is expecting.

Sure, with a season's best of 45.07 and the reputation of being Jamaica's best quarter-miler over the last two seasons, the Bertland Cameron-coached Gonzales is still the overwhelming favourite to win the national title in Sunday's final, scheduled for 6:25 p.m. However, he was certainly pushed by the Maurice Wilson-conditioned Lansford Spence, who himself is a former national champion over the distance.

"The plan was to get out in front after 30 metres and then relax to the line but I was under pressure the whole time from Lansford (Spence) so I had to do a lot more. I really wasn't planning to run this fast actually," said Gonzales after his 45.63 seconds run.

"I thought I would be able to win comfortably in 45.80 but that wasn't going to happen today, but I'm happy with the run," he added.

However, for Gonzales, who is ranked just outside of the top ten in the event so far this season, the important thing is to get to the final and win it there.

good enough to win

"I just want to be good enough to win this final, I'm not going to put any time out there, the important thing is to win and make the team to the World Championships," Gonzales added.

For Spence, who was going below 46 seconds for the first time this season after posting 45.82 seconds last night (still some way off his 44.77 seconds personal best), it's a matter of making a statement and ensuring that he gives himself a good chance to make the team to the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, later this year.

"I feel very good because this is my season's best and I actually felt very comfortable," Spence said. "I just want to give him (Gonzales) a good run for his money and I hope I come out on top in that contest."

"I'm very confident that I'll make this team and I am going out there to ensure that I do," said Spence, who has been improving his speed with extra 200 metre races this season.

He is not the only one who feels this way as Oral Thompson, who ran 45.63 seconds, Allodin Fothergill, 45.98 seconds, Leford Green, 46.04 and Edino Steele, 46.05 will all be feeling strongly about their chances of making the team to Daegu. The semi-finals of the men's 400m will be contested tomorrow at 7:25 p.m.