Anthony Foster, Star Writer

Melaine Walker ... "Anything I do, I always want to be on top, and Rawlinson is the only one that I haven't beaten yet." - AP

Despite dominating the 400m hurdles this past season, Olympic champion Melaine Walker believes she is not yet the best in her event.

Walker, who won all but her first race back in February, had a glorious summer by winning the Olympic title in a Games' record 52.64 seconds.

However, with two-time World champion Jana Rawlinson out of the Beijing Olympics and most of the season with a toe injury, Walker hinted the victory would have been sweeter with Rawlinson in the race.

"I was always geared up to defeat her (Rawlinson) at every meet that I went to but she never showed up. I always end up winning and winning, but part of that was my determination to defeat her and I never had a chance to," added Walker.

"Anything I do I always want to be on top and she is the only one that I haven't beaten yet," said Walker.

"I've been running against Rawlinson since I was a junior and she is the only person I haven't beaten yet," she stressed.

Great athlete

In nine clashes between the two, Rawlinson came away the winner on every occasion. It all started at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Chile where Rawlinson won in 56.27 to Walker's 56.96 for third.

Rawlinson again won the Commonwealth Games title in 2002, finishing in 54.40 to Walker's 57.10. Rawlinson is also the reigning World champion in 53.31, the event Walker failed to make it to the final.

"She is the next person to beat. She is also a great athlete, so I am looking out for her next season," added Walker.

In an interview published in today's Gleaner, Walker admits she is not that motivated to run the 400m hurdles, but would be pumped up if Rawlinson was in the race.

"I would be more excited because she has been beating me for a while and my aim is to beat her," she added, while saying this would help her to "relax and to let me know that I am the best."

Former world number one, American Lashinda Demus, was Walker's other target; but she got her victory earlier this year.

"I had my chance of beating Lashinda Demus this year, which let me feel good..." she stated.

As for Rawlinson, "If it doesn't happen, that's okay because I managed to get the Olympic record and she has been running for a while and not able to do that. So, I am happy for myself as that was my goal for this year."

anthony.foster@gleanerjm.com