Jodean Williams, who led off the Jamaican women’s 4x400m team at the recent World Relays in Guangzhou, China said she made “a bold decision” to complete her leg despite the recurrence of “a slight discomfort” in her right hamstring.
Williams raised eyebrows when she jogged out of the blocks, running 56.85 seconds, well behind the other teams in the race as Jamaica finished last in their first round race on Saturday’s opening day in 3:40.54 minutes, the slowest time recorded by any of the 20 teams that took part in the round.
Roneisha McGregor, 54.01 seconds; Kelly-Ann Beckford, 53.51 seconds; and Ronda Whyte, 56.17 seconds, were the other members of the team.
In a post on her Instagram page on Sunday, Williams, who is a specialist in the 100m and 200m, sought to reaffirm her commitment to running for Jamaica while noting that she had felt “a slight discomfort” while training in China on Thursday and had reported it to the team leader who instructed her to see the team doctor.
The post said “the issue was resolved” and her preparation on Saturday went well until “a few strides after the race started, I felt my hamstring tighten, and I was not able to run as fast as I should.”
Williams, who ran with a tape on her right hamstring, added, “I considered stopping midway the race as there was no improvement, but I took the bold decision to deliver the baton.”
She went back to see the team doctor after the race, she wrote, and “and we both agreed that I shouldn’t compete any further, which was communicated to the team leaders.”
Williams, who closed the post by saying “my commitment to the country is paramount”, thanked the JAAA for selecting her for the event, adding she intended to seek further medical attention before continuing her preparation for the national championships.