Nervous wait for Williams

ISTANBUL, Turkey:Kimberly Williams had to endure the longest 20 minutes or so of her life on yesterday's opening day of the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, as she waited anxiously to see if she had done enough to make the women's triple jump final.

The former Vere Technical schoolgirl could not improve on her second attempt mark or 14.15m, which was good enough for seventh place overall and with some eight jumpers left with a chance of making it into the top eight for a spot in the final, Williams was forced into a nerve-racking wait.

In the end, her distance was not bettered, which meant that for the first time in her career she will get a chance to jump in the final at a major international senior championships.

Williams, 23, relived the experience and underscored that regardless of the result in the finals, she will leave Istanbul richer in confidence, as she gets set to launch her Olympic 2012 qualifying bid in the coming weeks.

"I was really nervous because it's triple jump so anything can happen, so I was just hoping that I would make it in (the final). I am happy I survived," said a relieved Williams.

"This is definitely a confidence-booster, so hopefully I can come out in the final and do even better," she added.

With a spot among the best eight indoor jumpers in the world now secured, Williams is now looking to raise her own standards and will settle for nothing less than a new personal best, when she hits the pit this morning at 10:00 (Jamaica time).

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'I can do better'

"A leap of 14.15m is not too far from my PB but I feel like I can do better, so I am hoping that when I get back out there I will be able to get a PR. As long as I get a personal best it means that I have done my best, so let's see what happens," said Williams, who will be hoping to show more aggression today.

"I think I just need to be more aggressive towards the board. My coach says I have been backing off so I will have that in the back of my mind when I go out there," Williams shared.

Regardless of what happens next, Williams is expecting her experiences here to lift her confidence going into her preparation to the Olympic trials later this year.

"I have been to couple World Championships so I knew what it would be like, so I was just looking to come out here and do my best and I am happy to be in the final. I don't have to go back to my room and cry or feel depressed," Williams laughed.

- Andre Lowe