Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

RANKED WORLD No. 1 in the 400m hurdles this year, Melaine Walker appears destined to take her event to another level.

Looking to emulate Deon Hemmings-McCatty, who won the 400m hurdles at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, Walker is by far Jamaica's top athlete over the one-lap obstacle race.

With the National Championships now out of the way, the former St. Jago star, who as a high school girl defeated Hemmings-McCatty at a meet in Barbados in 2001, has as her main target the World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

"I am in good shape right now, so hopefully by the World Championships I will still be in good shape ... and run a good time. I aim to better my personal record under 53 seconds and even get the gold at the World Championships this year," Walker said.

Walker's agent/manager Juliet Campbell, the founder and CEO of Brick House International Sports Management Inc., described her athlete as the "best athlete at Brick". "At this time she is doing well," Campbell, a three-time Olympian, added. "She is number one in the world at present. I am looking forward to good things from her at the World Championships. I am almost positive she will get a medal," said Campbell, a World Indoor 200m gold medallist.

"It's just the matter of what colour she will get," added Campbell.

Walker, a former University of Texas standout, raced to the world- leading and personal best 54.14 seconds mark at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, on June 10.

Coached by Stephen Francis, Walker, who was third in the 400m hurdles at the 2002 World Juniors, is also targeting the national record.