Shelly-Ann Fraser wins the 100m by more than two metres to lead a Jamaican medal sweep with Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart sharing the silver (© Getty Images)
Returning to full fitness after surgery on her left knee last September, to compete at Jamaica’s trials for a spot at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin, is the top priority for Olympic 100m silver medallist Sherone Simpson.
“It’s (the knee injury) coming on very good,” Simpson said, noting that she resumed training in December.
Jamaica’s National Junior and Senior Championships are scheduled for June 26-28 June.
“I’m really taking it slowly though, keeping my fingers crossed and hopefully I’ll be able to compete at the trials to get a spot in the 100 metres for the World Championships in Berlin,” added the 2006 Jamaica Sportswoman of the year.
“I had to replace cartilage,” Simpson explained, indicating that she competed with the damaged knee during the Beijing Olympics, where she finished joint-second with her compatriot Kerron Stewart in the 100m, won by another Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser in 10.78 seconds. Simpson and Stewart were credited with the same time of 10.98secs. It had never occurred in the history of the Olympic Games at that event.
“I had to just be strong, I had trained really hard going into the Olympics and seeing that 2007 was a really rough year for me (hip injury), I wanted to really get a medal in 2008 and I ensured that I saw a doctor before going to Tianjin (Jamaica’s pre-Olympic camp) and he said it was OK for me to compete and to train.”
“So I just put everything behind me, like the pain and everything and just ensure that I train and really think about getting a medal in the 100 metres in Beijing.”
The 2006 Commonwealth 200m champion also placed sixth in the half-lap event in Beijing behind Jamaica’s winner Veronica Campbell-Brown (21.74secs) and bronze medallist Stewart (22.00). American Allyson Felix won the silver in 21.93secs.
“Definitely I’ll have to do a meet before the trials just to get a little run before, but my coach and I are just taking it slowly and just hoping that I can run at the trials,” she reasoned.
“If not... I’m prepared for it, not to compete at the World championships, but maybe after on the European circuit and just look forward to 2010 and beyond,” added Simpson, who remains the fourth fastest Jamaican woman of all-time in the 100m with 10.82secs, behind Merlene Ottey(10.74), Fraser (10.78) and Stewart (10.80).
Simpson, who is also the sixth fastest Jamaican women of all-time in the 200m with 22.00, credits her coach Stephen Francis for all her successes.
“I must give credit to my coach because he has been behind me through think and thin and he’s the one that really motivates me and really helps me to see the potential that I have and just to see that I can be number one and I can be the best in whatever I do,” said the Manchester High School Alumna.
The only Jamaican women to have run faster than Simpson in the 200m are: Ottey (21.64), Grace Jackson (21.72), Campbell-Brown (21.74), Juliet Cuthbert (21.75) and Stewart (21.99).
Kayon Raynor for the IAAF
