As Warren Weir progressed through the rounds at the national trials, his mother Celese Clarke was praying he would not get hurt again.

Clarke, whose son qualified for the London Olympics 2012 after finishing third in the 200 metres, explained that in his last year at Calabar, he suffered an injury that caused him to miss Boys' Champs. She feared he would never walk properly again.

"He was injured for a long time. But to God be the glory," she said.

Warren grew up in Portmore, St Catherine where his track career began.

"He started from Waterford Primary, going to the Miami Classics," recalled Clarke. She said she always reminded him of the importance of academics. But when he decided to break from studies at the University of Technology to try for the Olympics, Clarke supported him.

"Warren is a very determined person. They always said at Calabar that he had the heart of a lion. So I always knew that he could do it. When he makes up his mind to do something, he's going to do it."

knew he would qualify

Clarke said that in Sunday's final, she knew he would qualify before the race was complete.

"He runs very good curves, so from he went around the curve, I know that he was going to place third," she said. "All I could say was 'To God be the glory, thank you, Lord'," she said. When asked if there were plans to go to London to see him perform in person, Clarke laughed.

"It would be very lovely to go but if I can't go, it's not the end of the world. I'll stay and support him right through the TV."

daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com