I was ready to run, says quarter miler Stephenie-Ann McPherson

Andre Lowe, Sports Editor

LONDON, England:
Jamaican quarter miler Stephenie-Ann McPherson has rejected reports that she did not run in the women's 4x400m relay final at the World Championships on Sunday because of an injury.

"I was ready to run," said McPherson but she admitted that out of anger, she had told team mates that she did not have to take to the tracks.

It all happened during an argument McPherson said began when her team members wanted to wear a kit that was too large for her.

"I said it out of anger that they can run in whatever they want to run in and that I don’t have to run," stated McPherson, however, she said she had all intentions to compete. 

At the same time, she has denied a physical altercation with team mate Shericka Jackson saying it was purely verbal.

"I don't know about any fight. We exchanged words, there was no fight," McPherson said in reference to her argument with Jackson.

McPherson was withdrawn from the team and replaced by Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby, who pulled up while running the second leg of the event. 

McPherson's withdrawal came after a clash with her MVP Track Club teammate Shericka Jackson during a meeting prior to the team's departure from their hotel to the London Stadium warm-up track. 

Technical Leader Donald Quarrie said he was informed by team coach Paul Francis, who also coaches at MVP, that McPherson was injured and could no longer compete.

Quarrie questioned the development, noting that he found it odd that the athlete could be injured between the time they left the team hotel and their arrival at the track. 

McPherson told The Gleaner that she only suffered a leg cramp during the first round of the event a day earlier. 

She added that she was later told by Paul Francis not to warm up because he had already made the change, noting that she felt that decision was made because of her earlier cramps issue.