Roswell feels ‘blessed’ to win first national title Sprint hurdler states confidence heading into meet

Demisha Roswell upstaged her more fancied rivals to create the biggest upset at the JAAA PUMA National Senior and Junior Championships. 

In the process, Roswell won her first senior national women's 100m hurdles title, clocking a personal best 12.40 seconds. 

The former Vere Technical and Texas Technical athlete was on cloud nine after her outstanding feat, turning back the likes of defending champion Megan Simmonds, World Championships representative Amoi Brown, and two-time World Under-20 champion Kerrica Hill. 

Roswell looked poised throughout and won going away. She now ranks fourth in the world behind world leader Masai Russell of the United States (12.14), world record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria (12.28), and two-time World Indoor champion Devynne Charlton of The Bahamas (12.37). 

"I am feeling joyful and blessed to win my first national title. Coming to the Championships, I was very confident as I was well prepared and determined to come out on top,” said Roswell. 

“There were some amazing athletes in the race, but my focus was on my lane and the 10 barriers ahead of me, and it was all about execution," added Roswell. 

She says she was even more motivated after her win at the Lone Star USATF Meet in College Station, Texas, where she turned back a quality field, including Jamaica's Ackera Nugent. 

"I moved my personal best from 12.44 to 12.40 seconds, and I am very confident that I can go even faster. It is just for me to continue putting in the hard work, remain disciplined in my training, and stay focused," she continued. 

"I am very excited because I will now get the chance to represent the country for the first time when I go to the Commonwealth Games. I want to step up to the big stage and see what I can do," she shared. 

"Track and field is a very unforgiving sport, and you do not know what the future holds for you going forward, but expect greatness," she stated. 

Responding to queries about how she managed to move ahead of several athletes who were well ahead of her at high-school level, Roswell said: "For me, it was all about mental and physical preparation."