'Tightness' caused Brigitte to stop running in 400m

 World Champion assures fans she is not injured

Raymond Graham, Gleaner Writer

THERE was a galaxy of local track and field stars on parade at the University of West Indies Invitational meet at the Usain Bolt track last Saturday, and numbered among them was the country's most successful sprint hurdler, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, who made her first individual appearance after 11 months, due to a left hamstring injury suffered at the UTech Classics last April.

Foster-Hylton, the 2009 World Championships gold medallist in the women's 100 metres hurdles, did not make her appearance in her pet event, as she competed in the competitive 400 metres which included Rosemarie Whyte and her MVP club teammates, Sherone Simpson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Foster-Hylton gave her many supporters some anxious moments, as after completing 200 metres she came to a halt and fans thought she had aggravated her injury.

"I am okay as this had nothing to do with my hamstring," she revealed.

"We were told that we were running at 3:30 p.m and we warmed up for the race to run at that time, but the organisers of the meet kept delaying the event and we did not get a chance to run until about three hours later. This affected my whole warm-up process and during the race I felt a little tightness in my legs and I took precautionary steps by stopping in the race," explained Foster-Hylton.

Similar sentiments

Her teammates, Shericka Williams and Melaine Walker, voiced similar sentiments and noted that they were very displeased with the delay of their events and the time given to warm up.

Despite not completing the 400m, Foster-Hylton, who will be defending her 100m hurdles title in Daegu this summer, expressed pleasure to be competing again.

"It has been 11 months of disappointment for me knowing that I could not compete in a year, just after winning the biggest title of my track career. Just to be back competing it feels great and I am looking forward to the remainder of the season," said Foster-Hylton.

She also praised her coach Stephen Francis and thanked her well-wishers.

"I would like to heap praises on coach Francis for his patience and his effort in getting me back to fitness and I would also like to thank my hundreds of fans who have emailed me wishing me good luck in my return to the track," said Foster-Hylton.

"Their support has really played a very important role in me getting back on track and I am going to make them proud once again," she added.