Jamaican Olympian Ian Weakly will be aiming for another slice of history when he lines up for the 400m at the Jamaica National Championships, which begin Thursday at the National Stadium in Kingston. Now competing in the M50 age category, the 51-year-old is setting his sights on breaking the world record of 50.51 seconds set by Spain’s Juan Lopez Anaya on July 16, 2021.

This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Weakly, who last year rewrote the record books in the 400m hurdles, clocking 54.75 seconds on July 16, 2024, to become the world record holder in that event for the M50 division.

“The plan really is to get a very competitive race that I can actually use to push,” said Weakly, who has been active on the Masters circuit in recent years. “Try to come through, pull me through in about 22 or 23 seconds for the first 200.”

A national champion in his prime, Weakly represented Jamaica at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and earned medals at both the Commonwealth and Central American and Caribbean Games. His personal best of 48.55 seconds, set in Trikala in 2003, places him among the fastest 150 men in the history of the 400m hurdles.

Though no longer in the professional ranks, Weakly remains deeply committed to competition and excellence in his age group. He’s hoping the electric atmosphere of the National Stadium will help him deliver a sub-51 performance.

“I think with all the adrenaline and the excitement, I should be able to knock off that half a second to that,” he said. “That 51 I ran earlier this season, that wasn’t me.”

The veteran hurdler’s quest adds an inspiring layer to the 2025 National Championships, where Jamaica’s top athletes will compete for national titles and World Championship spots.