Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Shericka Williams shows off her silver medal after the medal ceremony.

The back-to-school preparations at the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) grounds came to a halt Tuesday morning when Shericka Williams produced a late burst of energy and crossed the finish line in a flash to take the silver medal in the 400-metre final at the Beijing Olympics in China.

"It was orientation day and we were here watching the race. Everybody was shouting and cheering her on," said an elated Joan Lodge, a member of the English department at the school.

Most Jamaicans didn't expect Williams would have medalled in the highly competitive 400-metre race, but the teachers and students of the school community knew better.

Eldemire Smith, who coached Williams at the high school level, told The Gleaner that he discovered her in the late 1990s, while watching her compete at the Giddy Hall Primary School sports day in western St Elizabeth.

Former coach

According to her former coach, Williams grew up in the farming community of Whitehall with her grandmother.

"Her mother was living overseas, the grandmother was her only guardian," said coach Smith.

Impressed with her performance at the sports day, he got her enrolled at STETHS where he began to mould her.

"She almost gave up the sport, during her early years, because of the many defeats from people such as Anneisha McLaughlin. I had to sit her down and speak with her," said Smith.

Looking back at Williams' achievement, coach Smith said he was surprised by the silver medal.

"I was more looking for a bronze medal," said Smith.

This was her third silver medal at a major track-and-field event since 2005. Her previous medals came in 2005 and 2007 at the World Championship in Helsinki, Finland, and Osaka, Japan, respectively. She was a member of Jamaica's 4x400 relay team.

Although she did not get a chance to watch the race live, Shericka's mother, Angela Clarke, who spoke with The Gleaner from New York, said she was proud of her 23-year-old daughter.

Very excited

"I just spoke with her on the phone and she was very excited," said Clarke.

The proud mom was unable to say how she planned to celebrate her daughter's Olympic silver medal.

"When I see the race later, then I will celebrate. For now, I am just happy and excited," said Clarke.As a mother, she supported Williams in her track-and-field career.

"She is a good kid. I encourage her. She always goes after what she want," a pleased Clarke told The Gleaner yesterday.

Pearline Gayle (second right) gives a testimony about her niece Shericka Williams, evoking laughter from Shericka's grandmother, Kathleen Clarke (sitting). Looking on are her aunt Gloria Gayle and her dad, Errol Williams. - photo by Ketima Walker