Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Shericka Williams - photo BY Anthony Foster

Olympic 400m silver medal-list, Shericka Williams, said Asafa Powell's disappointing finish in the men's 100m pumped up other MVP Track Club athletes to do their best in Beijing.

Powell, who started the men's 100m as a strong medal contender, finished fifth in 9.95 seconds. It was Powell's second failure at an Olympic Games.

"After seeing what happened to Asafa in the 100m, everybody was so disappointed and we decided we have to go out there and do this for coach (Stephen Francis) and for MVP, so that's what everybody did after what happened in the men's 100m," explained Williams, who was welcomed home with a motorcade and celebration in Appleton, St Elizabeth on Sunday.

Williams, who admitted she was not among the medal favourites, recorded a personal best of 49.69 seconds to surprise with a silver medal in the flat 400m. She also won a bronze medal as a member of the 4x400m relay team.

Other MVP athletes who were sucessful at the Olympic Games in Beijing, who competed for Jamaica are Shelly-Ann Fraser, who also recorded a personal best of 10.78 to become the first Jamaican woman to win the Olympic 100m; Melaine Walker, who recorded an Olympic record of 52.64 in winning the women's 400m hurdles final; and Sherone Simpson's 10.98 for silver in the women's 100m.

Germaine Mason, who switched allegiance to Great Britain three years ago, also produced a personal best of 2.34m for silver in the men's high jump.

Additionally, Jamaica's 4x100m men's quartet, which included MVP athletes Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Powell, produced a world record 37.10 in the final.

Describing the 400m final, in which she won silver behind Great Britain's Christine Ohuruogu (49.62) and ahead of favourite Sanya Richards of United States (49.93), she agrees with the assessment of her coach, Francis, that a mistimed run may have cost her the gold medal.

"I should have started to run from the 120m-150m mark," Williams admitted.

"...When I entered the straight in fifth or sixth position, I knew I did not run the race the way I should," continued the former St Elizabeth Technical student.

Having found herself in that position though, Williams says she held her composure.

Motorcade

"I knew Sanya was the only person with a faster 200m PB (personal best) than I, so I knew once I sprinted my last 100m I would beat them," added Williams, whose PB over the 200m is 22.50.

"... And that's what coach told me to do, 'make sure you run the last 60m-70m of your race very hard ... keep on form and you can run past all of those girls'; and that's what I did," continued Williams.

The small motorcade, which started at Lacovia in St Elizabeth and went through Newton, Maggotty, Siloah, Williamsfield, Thornton and Aberdeen to end in Appleton, saw several hundreds of fans brave the rain to wave to their heroine.

Williams expressed surprise and appreciation at the way her community welcomed her back home.

"I did not expect people to really do this for me ... I was coming back thinking that everything would be normal," a smiling Williams said.

"When I came (in the island Saturday) I heard they were keeping something here for me, so I had to adjust myself," added Williams, who thanked the fans for turning out at the Appleton sports club to party and celebrate her achievements.