André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
DAEGU, South Korea:
Two months ago Nesta Carter was a broken spirit, disappointed by his failure to finish in the top three of the 100m final and book an automatic spot on Jamaica's team to the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea.
Carter finished fourth behind training partner Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake and Steve Mullings, with those three expected to then join defending world champion Usain Bolt in Daegu in the 100m.
Michael Frater, who actually finished behind Carter, was also thinking about relay team preparation. But life has a way of springing the odd surprise.
Things have taken an unexpected turn for the better for Carter and Frater, who were members of Jamaica's record-breaking 4x100m relay team at the Beijing Olympics, as both have been afforded the opportunity to represent their country in the individual 100m due to differing developments.
Replaced Mullings, Powell
Carter replaces the embattled Mullings, who tested positive for a banned substance and was axed from the Jamaican team, while Frater replaces the injured Asafa Powell.
Both athletes have expressed their desire to make the most of the chance given to them.
Carter, who has only represented Jamaica once before in an individual race - in 2007 at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan - is determined to do better than his semi-final elimination the last time around and is considered a strong candidate for a podium finish here.
"I want to give God thanks for the chance to be able to compete and to represent my country, so I just want to take the opportunity to go out there and put out the best I can do," said Carter, who has gone 9.90 seconds this year.
"I have been training very hard this year, I got a PR in the 200m (20.25), so I am much stronger than I was last year plus I have been working on a couple stuff, so I just want to go out there and do my best," he added.
"I have been given a second chance and I am here to make the best of it. I am very confident of my chances," Carter underlined.
Frater is the third fastest Jamaican this year with 9.88 and he too is looking to seize the opportunity with both hands and claim a second World Championships 100m medal, following his silver in Helsinki in 2005.
"It was fun out there," said Frater after his heat yesterday. "It's mixed feelings; I wasn't ready to compete this weekend but the opportunity presented itself so I just have to make the most of it and do the best that I can.
"I think I am in very good shape and once I am able to stick to my race plan and execute my race I should be able to do well," shared Frater, who was recently named captain for the men's team here.