Wilson eager to make amends

Gordon Williams, Gleaner Writer

MARIETTA, Georgia, USA:

It's getting hot here. But the mid-April blue sky and gentle breeze brings a smile to Nickiesha Wilson's face, even after a brutal time trial just moments before.

The Kingston-born hurdler is happy because everything is on track. She's injury free and stronger, anxious to face real competition, especially Jamaica's national track and field trials in June, and then, hopefully, the IAAF World Championships in Athletics (WCA) August in Daegu, South Korea.

"I'm settled right now," Wilson said, still catching her breath. " ... Things are going well."

Yet, disappointment from her last WCA bid in Germany lingers, especially the torturous stretch run in the 400 metres hurdles semi-final. Two years ago she came off the final turn in Berlin well placed behind eventual heat three winner Lashinda Demus of the United States.

"I was in second," Wilson recalled, "up until the last 50 metres."

That's when danger loomed. With each step down the stadium's bright blue track it closed in. Russia's Natalya Antyukh caught Wilson at the last hurdle. Agonisingly, the Jamaican's chance to compete for a medal at one of track's two most prestigious championships was slipping away. If ... she ... could ... just ... hold ... on.

Wilson didn't.

"That girl, she just passed me like the last five metres," she sighed. " ... I was just not strong enough towards the end."

Weakness cost Wilson an automatic spot in the final as a top-two finisher in each semi-final. Her time of 54.89 seconds was too slow to fill one of the other two lanes. Wilson's medal dream was shattered.

EXPECTATIONS

Expectations for Wilson sprung up when the then 21-year-old All-American champion from Louisiana State University (LSU) finished fourth at WCA 2007 in Osaka, Japan. A personal best (PB) 53.97 forecasted success at WCA 2009, when she would be 23, stronger, faster and more experienced.

But the rising star plummeted in Berlin. Hurting ankles and hamstring had butchered Wilson's preparation, when even walking became difficult.

"Most of my workouts I couldn't do," she explained. "I couldn't hurdle because of my hamstring."

Yet, despite assurances from her coach and her own belief she had done her best, Wilson was distraught over WCA 2009.

"I was mad," she said bluntly. "I was crying and everything ... I didn't make the final and that was disappointing."

Now Wilson is determined to make amends. Her bid for Jamaica's team to Daegu has been enhanced by the automatic WCA qualification of Melaine Walker as defending 400 hurdles champion. Wilson will battle for one of three remaining places.

COMPETITION

Stiff competition is expected from fast-improving Kaliese Spencer, who finished fourth in Berlin. Others - such as Shevon Stoddart and schoolgirl standout Ristananna Tracey - may be in the hunt. But Wilson relishes the chance to prove herself.

"You just have to bounce back," said the former Convent of Mercy (Alpha) student.

Realistically, she must run faster than her personal best to contend for a medal in Daegu. Walker clocked a WCA best 52.42 to win in Berlin, just 0.08 off the world record. Spencer ran 53.56 in the final and a PB 53.33 last year.

Wilson, now with her fourth coach since turning professional in 2008, has already started speed work, running a "decent" 200 metres at an April 16 meet in Alabama. Her next hurdles race is today in Guadeloupe.

A world-class 100 metres hurdler, with a PB of 12.79 seconds, Wilson plans to use the shorter race to get sharp for the 400 metres hurdles leading up to WCA 2011. She promises maximum effort.

"I can't stand here right now and tell you I'm gonna run a 52 (seconds)," Wilson explained. "I just have to work towards that day after day. So that's what the aim is for this year."

Still, her smile betrays renewed confidence since WCA 2009. She was third in the 400 hurdles at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India. A month earlier, she won gold in the event at the IAAF Continental Cup, formerly the IAAF World Cup in Athletics. It was in Croatia that training partner and 'big brother' Dwight Phillips, a US Olympic and WCA long jump champion, witnessed Wilson's turnaround.

"She was uncertain about what she was gonna do," Phillips recalled. "I told her 'just go out there and win - have fun and win' - and the following day that's exactly what she did."

Phillips and Wilson's current coach, Rana Reider, believe she is past the disappointment of WCA 2009.

"Now she's got a bit of success on the international level, with winning the World Cup," said Phillips. "So I feel like her confidence is gonna be unbelievable from now on ... Her practices, the intensity is way up from last year and she's feeling really eager to race."

Reider believes Wilson will better her personal bests in both the 100 and 400 metres hurdles this year.

"The hurdle workouts that we've been doing are faster than what her PB is," the coach explained.

The Wilson camp is also keen to keep her healthy. A physiotherapist is present at each workout here. On the track, the coach is focused on improving her body posture while sprinting between hurdles. Physically, she can go faster. Mentally, Wilson seems set.

"She knows what she needs to do and I think she'll be ready to roll," said Reider.

The plan is geared to ensuring Wilson makes Jamaica's team to WCA 2011 and then peak in Daegu. The time for redemption is then.

"Yes," Wilson said with that big smile. "Definitely."