Kaliese Spencer

2011 IAAF World Championships in Athletics 400m hurdles medal favourite Kaliese Spencer will not allow herself to become pressured as a result of her favourite status going into the championships, and is instead determined to remain focused, as she gets set to hunt her first medal at a senior global championships.

Spencer, the 2010 IAAF Samsung Diamond League winner and world-leader with a season's best of 52.79, will enter the Daegu, South Korea, championships as a favourite for the gold medal, with defending champion and close friend Melaine Walker and American Lashinda Demus, the other serious contenders.

heightened expectation

The Jamaican is, however, keeping her feet on the ground, and despite entering the fray as the only woman below 53 seconds this year, Spencer maintains that she is not overly concerned about the heightened expectation.

"I understand that pressure will come, and with good performances come expectations and criticisms," said Spencer, who finished fourth at the last World Championships in 2009.

"I just plan to hold my own, maintain focus on my goals and with the positive support from family, friends and the hard work being put in by myself and my coach, I should be able to go out there, compete well and make my country proud."

Spencer, who has been fine-tuning for the championships along with her fellow MVP Track Club stablemates in Italy in recent weeks, underlined her satisfaction with her performances over the past two seasons, especially the recent personal best posting.

sublime performances

The former Manning's School student credits a greater appreciation and commitment towards the sport, as well as improved sporting maturity, and certain lifestyle changes for her sublime performances over the past two years in particular.

"I am very happy with my performances this year. I, however, am not surprised that all this is happening. In the last two years I have matured even more as an athlete, I have made athletics my primary and sole focus and I have also become stronger mentally and physically," said the 2006 World Junior champion.

"I have gained more endurance and I am feeling much stronger than I did in previous years. I have also placed more emphasis on my diet; on taking in the right food and also in the proportions necessary to ensure my body has the necessary fuel to perform well," she added.

Spencer, 24, is responsible for three of the five fastest times recorded over the distance this season and will no doubt take some beating, if she is to be denied the gold medal in Daegu.

Kaliese Spencer takes a tumble during the 400m hurdles event last year. - File