Allodin Fothergill - File

The men's 400 metres was the first event to really place Jamaica at the forefront of world athletics.

Arthur Wint and George Rhoden captured 400 metres Olympic gold medals in 1948 and 1952 respectively while Herb McKenley won silver medals. Others like Bertland Cameron, Gregory Haughton and Davian Clarke were also very dominant on the world stage. Things have, however, changed dramatically in recent years.

Jamaica's performance in the 400m has nosedived. The island has failed to medal in the 4x400m in the last two major championships, the IAAF World Championships and the Olympic Games. The situation is the same in the individual event.

Glory for Jamaica

One athlete who is determined to bring back glory for Jamaica in the 400m is the former Eltham High School student, Olympian Allodin Fothergill. The 21-year-old Fothergill who won a medal for his school in the 400 metres at the 2005 Boys' and Girls' Championships showed his true potential when he enroled at GC Foster College that same year.

Now in his second year at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore he is determined to have an excellent 2009 season.

"I am hoping to run sub 45 seconds and compete in the individual 400 metres at next year's World Championships as I think, come next year, I will be in the best shape of my life, barring injury," he said confidently after a training session .

Fothergill who broke Lansford Spence's inter-collegiate 400 metres record of 46.10 seconds with a a new mark of 46.00 and who has been on several national teams from junior to senior levels is also hoping to dominate the NCAA outdoor 400 metres.

"Although I will be doing the 400 metres indoor I will not be focusing on this as I am really looking forward to the outdoor season where I will be having some good competition," he added.

In his first indoor season last year, Fothergill did fairly well. He qualified for the NCAA Championships but failed to advance to the final after winning his preliminary round heat.

Very disappointed

The former inter-collegiate 400m champion is very disappointed that he did not get a chance to run in the final of the 4x400m at the Beijing Olympics.

"I am very unhappy that I was not given a chance to run in the final as I knew that I did very well in the preliminary round and for some odd reason the coach did not select me to compete in the final and I am certain if I was on the team we could have won a medal," said Fothergill.

Fothergill is so focused this time around as he will be returning to Jamaica for the Christmas break to continue his training with his former coach, Maurice Wilson who he thinks did a great job with him over the years.

"It will be too cold (in the United States) during that time of the year and I think going home for the Christmas break and working out with my former coach will enhance my chances of doing well in the up-coming season," he concluded.