By Gary Kingston
In another sign that the men’s 800 metres at the Harry Jerome Track Classic on Tuesday could be the race to watch, two of the leading contenders set personal best times on Saturday. They also ran under the qualifying standard for September’s world championships in Tokyo.
Navasky Anderson continued his impressive 2025 season by lowering the Jamaican national record for the second time this year. He clocked in at one minute, 44.40 seconds to win the 800 at the Sound Running Sunset Tour meet in Los Angeles.
What a race for Matti Erickson. National runner-up. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/dhsgJ5geq3
— oregontf (@OregonTF) June 14, 2025
In a tightly contested finish, he held off American Abe Alvarado, who clocked 1:44.47 and Nelson, B.C.’s surprising Matti Erickson, who was just behind in 1:44.49.
Erickson, a University of Oregon runner and the reigning Jerome champion, bettered his previous PB of 1:45.74 set at the Portland Track Festival in June, 2024.
Anderson’s winning time shaved 0.21 seconds off the national record of 1:44.61 he had set just last month at a meet in Baltimore, which had itself improved upon the 1:44.70 mark he set in 2023. Saturday’s race saw him deliver a well-timed surge over the final 100 metres to secure both the victory and the record, cementing his status as Jamaica’s premier half-miler.
Both Anderson and Erickson came in under the 1:44.50 World Athletics qualifying standard for Tokyo. Anderson’s 1:44.40 currently ranks as the 38th fastest time in the world for 2025, while Erickson’s 1:44.49 ranks 42nd.
While several men have broken the 1:44 barrier this year, Anderson, 25, and Erickson, 22 are clearly showing they can threaten that time in the highly demanding two-lap event.
Could this be the year that the 37-year-old Jerome record of 1:43.70 by American Johnny Gray is seriously threatened?
