Melaine Walker looks to win Jamaica's second Olympic medal in the 400m hurdles. - ap

beijing

Jamaica's Melaine Walker believes she is in world record shape for tomorrow's final of the women's 400m hurdles.

After running a comfortable 54.20 seconds to win semi-final two and qualifying for the final, Walker said she thought Russian Yuliya Pechonkina's world record of 52.34, which was achieved in 2003, could be in danger.

"Big danger ... no way near what I plan to run in the final," a smiling Walker said.

"I just need to keep it together the way it is now, and come in the final ... I am the hit (person to beat), so with God's help, I should come home with the gold," added Walker, who has had two very comfortable rounds.

"I am trying to get the world record, if I fall short, I might get the Jamaican record," she said.

The national record of 52.82 was set by Deon Hemmings-McCatty to win the event in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, the first gold medal at the Olympics for any Jamaican woman.

Unbeaten in the event this season, Walker is widely regarded as a favourite headed into the final, but she is expected to face a challenge from the American pair of Sheena Tosta and Tiffany Ross-Williams. Tosta had the fastest time heading into the final finishing her semi-final in 54.07 seconds, while her teammate Ross-Williams finished in a time of 54.99s.