Wilson's painful battle brings sweet reward

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

Delhi, India:

Newly crowned Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles bronze winner, Nickiesha Wilson, showed tremendous heart on Sunday, fighting the effects of a bothersome hamstring and holding off a competitor while fighting to claim her medal.

In fact, she was already showing heart a day earlier when she ensured her qualification in the semi-finals despite the injury.

The Olympian and 2007 World Championships finalist had been feeling the discomfort since she touched down in Delhi and had been receiving treatment from the medical team here.

The Continental Cup gold medal winner had to also receive treatment in the mixed zone shortly after the race. But for Wilson there are no regrets, her bronze is just reward for the massive sacrifice that she was more than willing to make in defence of her country's colours.

"I'm happy with the bronze medal because the aim was to come here and win a medal for my country and I did that. I wanted the gold but for now I'll settle with the bronze, considering the injuries and so on," Wilson said. "This is certainly a big step for me because it's still a medal at the Commonwealth Games."

Wilson said the hamstring became more of an issue towards the end of the race and prevented her from performing to her standard.

"I didn't want to say anything before but when I ran the heats, as you saw, I had to use a tape. I have a strain in the right hamstring so I felt it in the race, it was tightening up. I believe it definitely contributed somewhat to my under-performance because even when I kicked towards the end of the race I just couldn't go any faster," she said.

The former Alpha Academy athlete has done tremendously well this season, going under 55 seconds with a 54.52-second clocking, which is her personal best, making her the eighth-fastest woman this year in the event. The only Jamaican who has gone faster is Kaliese Spencer, who has a best time this year of 53.33 seconds.

"I'm very happy with my season," Wilson smiled. "Looking back like three to five months ago I didn't think that I would have made so much progress this year, like medalling at the Commonwealth Games and obtaining gold at the Continental Cup, so I'm very happy with my season."

The 24-year-old will now first of all focus on rehabilitating her injury and then start her preparations for next season.

"I'm really looking forward to next year and looking for big things," Wilson resolved.