LIMA, Peru | Days before heading off to compete at the World Athletics U20 Track & Field Championships, Alabama A&M University freshman Ana-Liese Torian finished her preparations on the track and began the mental aspects of competing on the World's Biggest Stage.
 
"To me I just approach it like any other competition," Torian said. "Obviously this is a huge deal and I am so blessed to have the ability to compete in Lima. I know it's the best of the best and not only do I represent myself, my hometown, but also Alabama A&M University."
 
Torian will compete in the 100-meter hurdles at the World Championships with the preliminary round set for 9:25 a.m. on Thursday, with the semifinals beginning at 3 p.m. The finals are scheduled for 5:10 p.m. on Friday.
 
"I am excited," Torian said. "While most had their summers off, I was busy practicing and getting ready to compete. I know I need a better start, especially if I want to get under 13 seconds."
 
In her first season at Alabama A&M, Torian blazed her way to two school records, first logging a personal-best time of 8.35 in the 60m during the indoor slate and breaking another mark during the outdoor season, running a school-best 12.99 in the 100m hurdles.
 
The Homewood, Ill. native, who is a Sports Management major and receiving United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors, competed in the United States Track & Field Association (USTFA) U20 Championships in Eugene, Ore., capturing first, with a time of 13.12.
 
"I went out there and competed like I normally would," Torian said. "There really isn't a mindset that goes into it. I get in the blocks and just focus on the things I need to do. I want to get a good start, which gets me going and then clear that first hurdle."
 
Torian is in a field that consists of Kerrica Hill, who is third in the world all-time. The Jamaican, who also won world U20 golds in the 4x100m in 2021 and 2002, has raced sparingly this year, but in her most recent outing clocked 12.85, the fastest time in the world this year by an U20 athlete.
 
Only one other sprint hurdler this year has broken 13 seconds: Hill's teammate Habiba Harris. She clocked a personal-best of 12.95 back in March, then ran a wind-assisted 12.93 to win the Carifta title in April.
 
Several other athletes are close to the 13-second barrier and will be hopeful of contesting for medals, including Torian, Cuba's Jocelyn Loreta Echazabal, France's Laura Montauban, and Croatia's Mia Wild.
 
"I have a good mindset going in and of course want to win. But overall, I just want to have fun as well," Torian said.
 
Fans can watch the live stream and highlights on the world athletics page at: www. worldathletics.org/videos.
 
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