ANDRé LOWE, Special Projects Editor - Sports

BEIJING, China:

Minutes after posting a new personal best in the final of the women's 400m hurdles on Wednesday, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships debutante Janieve Russell said her confidence has been boosted ahead of the coming season, though she believes she could have gone faster.

Russell, who is approaching her 22nd birthday, clocked 54.64 seconds, an improvement on her previous best of 54.75, which she posted last year at the National Senior Championships, as she finished fifth in the final inside the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, China.

The event was again won by defending champion Zuzana Hejnova in a world-leading 53.50, ahead of the American pair of Shamier Little, 53.94, and Cassandra Tate, 54.02.

"I came here to make all three rounds, and I did that, and I wanted a personal best in the final, and I also did that," Russell said. "I think I could have done a little better, but it's not my time as yet, and I will just continue training hard and hoping that I go faster."

Only two Jamaicans - Deon Hemmings and Melaine Walker - have medalled in this event at the World Championships.

Grown confidence

Russell, the 2012 World Junior champion and 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, says her confidence has grown, and is looking forward to next year's Olympic Games.

"It has boosted my confidence a lot knowing that I came fifth at the World Championships, so going on to the Olympics, I hope that I will be able to medal there," said Russell.