Jereem Richards: "I Can Go 43.5 Or Better" | 2026 Brussels Diamond League Post-Race Interview
Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards discusses his 2nd-place finish in the Men's 400m at the 2026 Brussels Diamond League Final. Richards reflects on his tactical execution, overcoming early-season training frustrations, and leveraging his veteran experience over younger competitors. Blazing across the finish line in 43.68, he secured his best-ever Diamond League career finish and broke the Trinidad and Tobago national record for a third consecutive year. Driven by deep faith and pride in his country, Richards explains his strategic move from the 200m event and shares his confidence that he can push his time to 43.5 seconds or better in the future.
Video Transcript
You ran most of that race with mind, and you got out like you had to save our national records.
Talk to me about what that plan was First of all, glory to God.
I've been having good practices for the past few weeks.
Hadn't been able to put together any best race and it was frustrating, but I stayed faithful, stayed trusting in God, believed in what He could do for me.
And in my mind, I was telling myself, "Okay, Olympics twenty-four is But just this time finish stronger," and that was my plan.
There's this trend where at the right moment you show up.
Can you talk to me about the ability to do so?
That's actually a verse in the Bible.
Where instead of me showing up, God showing up.
So in the right time, He showed up, and, you know, just trusting any process.
I'm older now, not as young as these guys, and I can't hit it every week like they do.
But I could get ready for when I need to hit it, and that's always been my plan.
When you think about it, you had looked to Chase Jackson actually earlier today, and she's also broken some records as well.
But it seems as though age is no longer determined, but it may even be an advantage.
Could you touch on that a little bit more?
I would say with age comes, experience.
I use my experience.
I know sometimes a lot of these guys run faster earlier, and coming down to this season is about trying to hold that.
For me, I, I, I look at my season as building intake.
So I mightn't be the fastest at the beginning of the season, but I progressively get better as the season goes along.
So that's basically my plan.
Was there a point in the racing you realized that you were doing something special?
When I got to three twenty and I didn't see nobody, I was like, "I might win this."
So I was just trying to hold on.
Last forty, I saw Kipngena SHipii go.
Then I started to see Jacory on the inside.
I was like, "Just hold it together.
Just hold it together."
When I saw he ran forty-three four, I was like, "I wasn't that far away from him," so then we see, well, I knew it was forty-three something.
National record, this is the third time in a row that I broke it.
Twenty twenty-four, twenty twenty-five, twenty twenty-six.
And glory to God, I hope I have one more in store still, 'cause I think I could go forty-three five or better, but I just satisfied with This was my best Diamond League finish ever in my career, so just happy with that.
Yeah.
There was a point where you were a two hundred meter specialist.
At what point did you accept the four hundred?
Honestly, the two hundred just became a little bit more difficult.
I realised that if you can't run at least nineteen eighty smooth, it's difficult to get a medal.
And I realize that the four hundred is one of the most inconsistent podiums.
So I was like, "You know what?
Let me try out something new."
it was always something I used to do, but didn't take it serious, so I was like, "Let me try s-- Take it seriously."
And, praise God, I've been able to break a national record three times, so yeah.
Can you talk about seeing Jacory on the inside come in, and if you were able to hold him off?
Where is your face at right now?
It's good.
Like, I've been having really good practice, honestly.
Some of these performances I had this season was really disappointing to me, but I just stay faithful to God and trusted in God and His plan because I ran practice PRs a lot this year.
I was just not putting a race together, honestly.
And it's just sad sometime because it's like you're working out so well in practice, and then time to meet, you can't do it.
So I was like You know, starting to get a little bit disheartening a little bit, but I was like, "You know what, Lord?
You in control.
At the right time, you will make it happen."
And He did.
So I just thankful for that.
Very cool.
Because persistence.
Do you feel calm about your national record?
Definitely.
I mean, I trust in God, I trust in my ability, and I just going out there to do my best.
We all know whenever national country kit on is a whole different Jerime.
So, you know, I just gonna go with the pride of representing Trinidad and Tobago, representing Jesus Christ, and, you know, hope for the best.
And my last question for you.
Typically, when we talk about the Caribbean, we're talking about the short sprints.
What does it mean to, like, be i- a major conversation, not just in the Caribbean, but in the world for the 4x400?
It means a lot.
It means a lot to me.
It means a lot for my legacy, my country, and represented, you know, Christians in track and field.
I've been given a God-given talent, and who's me to just take that talent upon myself and say it's all me?
It's not all me.
It's the talent that God blessed me with, that I'm able to showcase out there, you know?
So glory to God, great things He has done.
Jeraine, congratulations.
