“Won’t see me until then”- Amidst packed season, Nugent to take break until August
World Indoor 60m hurdles bronze medallist Ackera Nugent is ready for a much-needed break in her season after her victory at the Prefontaine Classic at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday.
Nugent ran a season’s best 12.32 to defeat a loaded field at the Diamond League meet that included the likes of Olympic champion Masai Russell, two-time World champion Danielle Williams and world record holder, Tobi Amusan.
Amusan was second in 12.38 while former world record holder Kendra Harrison was third in 12.50.
In an interview with Kaetlyn Hutchison after the race, the 23-year-old offered insight into her mindset going into the race.
“My mindset was that this is probably going to be the Worlds line-up whether I like it or not. Maybe a couple athletes were missing but, at the same time, I have an Olympic champion in the race and I have two world champions and the world record holder in the race,” she said.
“Knowing all that, I have to be on my A game and focus on the things I can control and stop being all over the place,” Nugent added.
In a separate interview, Nugent noted that she will now break her season until August, no doubt with a desire to be as fresh as possible heading into the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
“I’m done until August so you all won’t see me until then. Your baby needs a break,” she said.
Nugent’s season started all the way back on February 2 when she competed in the 60m hurdles at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.
In total, she competed 10 times indoors, eight times in the 60m hurdles and twice in the 50m hurdles.
Her indoor season culminated with her bronze medal-winning performance at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China on March 23.
She then opened her outdoor season at the inaugural Grand Slam Track event in Kingston from April 5-6.
She competed in the 100m and 100m hurdles there as well as at the other two Grand Slam events in Miami and Philadelphia, willing the overall short hurdles slam at all three events.
In total, Nugent has competed in 10 100m hurdles races, three 100m races and one 200m race so far this outdoor season.
A week before the Prefontaine Classic, Nugent was beaten to the line by Megan Tapper at Jamaica’s National Championships. Nugent’s time in second was 12.41 while Tapper, the 2021 Olympic bronze medallist, won in a personal best 12.34.
During the interview with Hutchison, Nugent noted that this portion of her season was focused on consistency.
“I feel like the first half of my season was basically focused on me being consistent,” she said.
“I’ve been focusing on my first five hurdles, that’s why I did World Indoors, and being consistent within where my coach wants me to be and I know that’s been really good for me forward for the next three months,” Nugent added.
When asked about hos she’s dealing with the mental aspect of the sport off the track, Nugent cited therapy as a huge source of comfort.
“I’ve been going to my therapist. Therapy is very important so I’ve been doing that a lot,” she said.
When we do see Ackera Nugent again, she will, no doubt, be well rested and have her eyes on claiming her maiden world title in Tokyo.
