Melanie Walker of Jamaica competes to win the women's 400 metres hurdles race during the Herculis athletics meeting at the Monaco stadium, Monaco. Walker won in 53.48 seconds. - AP

MELANIE WALKER'S run at the Herculis Grand Prix meet in Monaco on Tuesday placed her among the best in the event.

Walker's time, 53.48 seconds, not only gave her the favourite tag going into the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, but also made her the second fastest Jamaican over the 400m hurdles distance.

Top hurdlers

According to the IAAF all-time list, Deon Hemmings-McCatty, who ran 52.82 to win the gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, is the only Jamaican to record a faster time than Walker.

In Monaco, top American hurdlers Tiffany Williams (53.54) and Sheena Tosta (53.58) finished behind Walker, which suggests the Jamaican is ready to follow in the footsteps of Hemmings-McCatty.

Walker, who has won silver and bronze in this event at two World Junior Track and Field Champion-ships, is on her way to the Olympic training camp in Tianjin, China.