NEW Delhi, India:

While standing on the podium during the medal presentation of the men's 200m, Jamaica's silver medal winner, Lansford Spence, was a picture of unreserved bliss.

The sprinter had achieved what is, up to this point, the most important achievement of his career and everyone could tell how much it meant to him.

"This means a lot to me, It means everything," said Spence in reference to the shiny piece of silverware that was hanging from his neck.

The 400m specialist has endured some rough days, but he believes that this latest triumph represents a major turning point in his personal and athletic life, a positive foundation on which he can seriously start to lay the blocks to even greater successes in the future.

"For the past couple of years, I've been down and it has been rough so this will bring me back closer to where I want to be," Spence continued. "I'm just looking forward to next year, the sky is the limit and I'm very excited about what I can do."

Spence, who now runs out of Maurice Wilson's Sprint Tech Track Club - based at the G.C. Foster College - credited the advice and encouragement of his coach and the hard work that he put in this year for his progress.

"When I got lane nine, I wasn't too positive about it but my coach told me to just go out there and run the first 100m and give it my all, and that's what I did," Spence shared.

Kept momentum

"On the straight, I knew they were going to tighten up and get tired, so I just kept my momentum and pushed through to the line."

Spence started somewhat slowly and was behind the leading pack after 50 metres, but produced a spirited run towards the end to finish behind England's Leon Baptiste in 20.49 seconds, a lifetime best for the Jamaican.

When asked if he believes he left his surge towards the end a little too late, Spence seemed quite happy with his race plan and execution.

"I'm very satisfied. It's a medal and above all a personal best, so I really can't complain. I'm just going to enjoy this," said Spence. "I don't think I left it late at all. I gave it all that I got."

After making a stamp on the Common-wealth Games, Spence has now set his sights on greater things, starting with next year's all-important National Senior Champion-ships, which will be used as a qualifier to select Jamaica's team to the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea.

With sprint king Usain Bolt being the defending champion, he is automatically qualified to the event, meaning the country will be able to field Bolt and three other athletes in the event.

Spence is determined to be among the numbers next summer and even believes he has what it takes to pull off a surprise.

He also underlined that he has no intention of abandoning the 400m, informing that he will also pay close attention to the event next season.

"I'm going back next year for the 400m, that's my event and I have no intention to leave that. I believe I can do very well in that event," said Spence. "My first goal is to win the national trials and move on from there, I intend to do well in both events."

-A.L.