Anthony Foster, Star Writer

Beijing Olympic Games 400 metres silver medallist Sherika Williams (left) is surrounded by a number of young fans in her home parish, St Elizabeth, on Sunday. She was welcomed home by her community with a motorcade and party in Appleton. - Anthony Foster

Olympic 400 metres silver medallist Shericka Williams is eyeing Lorraine Fenton's national record, but said winning the World Champion-ships title next year is more important.

Fenton, who won silver in the same event at the Sydney Olympics, holds the national record of 49.30, which was set in 2002.

The World Championships

"Hopefully next year, I can go down there," said Williams, who had a personal best of 49.69 seconds for silver in Beijing. "I am going to work towards it and keep my focus on winning the World Championships," added Williams, who ran the opening leg on Jamaica's 4x400m women's team which earned a bronze medal at the Games.

Williams returned home on Saturday after competing in several meets after the Beijing Games. Unlike other athletes, she is not talking about getting any rest.

"After the celebration I have to get back in training and start focusing on the World Championships in Berlin,"said Williams.

Confident going into next season

"I am very confident going into next season, because I know if I did it then (in Beijing), I can do it again and that's what I will have in my mind," added Williams, who improved on her 50.24 2006 season best.

"You just have to go out there and tell yourself that you are better than everybody else," she continued.

In Beijing, Williams secured silver behind Great Britain's Christine Ohuruogu (49.62).

She was welcomed home by her community in northeast St Elizabeth on Sunday with a motorcade and homecoming party in Appleton.

Fans braved the rain

The small motorcade started at Lacovia and went through Newton, Siloah, Williamsfield, Thornton, and Aberdeen and ended in Appleton. Several fans braved the rain to wave to their heroine.

Williams expressed surprise at the way her community welcomed her back home. "I did not expect people to really do this for me ... I was coming back thinking that everything would be normal," a smiling Williams said.

"When I came (to the island, Saturday) I heard they were arranging something here for me, so I had to adjust my plans," added Williams.

Overall, she said 2008 "was a great season for me. At the Olympics, I got a silver and ran my personal best, which was overdue, because the last time I did a personal best in the 400m was in 2006, which was the best season I had before now."

She said her success was due to a different training routine. "My training was a little bit different from other years, and I think it really worked out, because everybody in our group (the MVP Track Club) ran really well."