Another 400m hurdler goes to Racers Club

Last year's Continental Cup 400 metres hurdles champion, Nickiesha Wilson, is returning home after spending the past six years away from the country, and will join up with the Racers Track Club upon her arrival in the island.

Wilson, who also won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2009 Central American and Caribbean Games, is expected to make her return sometime next week and will begin training with the University of the West Indies-based club in the second week of October.

A three-time NCAA champion while at Louisiana State University, Wilson is extremely excited to be returning to Jamaica and shared that the opportunity to work with noted coach Bert Cameron - who is responsible for the club's group of quarter-milers - played a major role in her decision.

Speaking from the United States, Wilson said: "Yes, I am coming home. I am very excited to be returning home because, of course, my family is there and I am sure that I will receive the support that I need. Plus, it is always good to be home, so yes, I am pretty excited to be coming home.

the next level

"I decided to come back home and head to Racers because I wanted to work with Bert Cameron. He has a nice group with him and I think he has the ability to take me to the next level with the potential that I have," Wilson added.

The 25-year-old has changed coaches more often than she would have liked in the past few years, but is hoping that her Racers tenure will be a more fruitful one, as she looks to improve on several key areas going into next season's Olympic year.

"First and foremost, I think that I will have to improve my strength and endurance," Wilson said. "Those are the most important aspects right now, and the things that I will need to focus on for the upcoming season among other things."

Wilson was a finalist at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan, but has not passed the semi-final stage at the last two instalments in Berlin, Germany (2009), and recently in Daegu, South Korea.

She also represented Jamaica at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where she finished fifth in a semi-final and won a silver medal at the 2007 Pan American Games.

Wilson's current personal best is 53.97 seconds.

The former Covenant of Mercy (Alpha) student becomes the second 400m hurdler to join the Racers Track Club, after national junior record holder Ristananna Tracey joined the ranks last week.