Daegu, South Korea:

400m hurdles silver medallist and Jamaica's flag-bearer in the event, Melaine Walker, was full of praise for her younger countrywomen and training partners Kaliese Spencer and Ristananna Tracey, who she believes will both come good for Jamaica sooner rather than later, but reminding all that she is going nowhere.

Spencer came into the IAAF World Championships in Athletics with the biggest promise, given her impressive performances on the circuit over the past two years. Spencer won the IAAF Samsung Diamond League in 2010 and was the leader prior to the final here, but it was Walker who delivered; like she did in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics and the Berlin World Champion-ships a year later.

tremendous ability

Tracey, the lion-hearted 18-year-old, who showed tremendous ability and bravery before ending her campaign at the semi-final stage, all with a broken wrist, has also made a strong impression on Walker.

"You know what, they are two tough girls who give me hell sometimes and that's what track and field is about," Walker said of the pair, who she says keep her honest in training.

"You can't ever feel comfortable, because that's when you are going to lose it, because that's when these girls are going to come and put the pressure on," Walker added, before making it clear that she relishes the competition and appreciates the test they provide.

"With pressure I always do well, so let's see what happens, it's going to be interesting," Walker said.

"In practice they give me hell, but I'm not a practice person anyway, but if they continue to train hard and we all continue to push ourselves and each other, we will all be great someday, and I look forward to seeing them on top, but I'll be there also with them," Walker pointed out.

Spencer finished fourth in the 400m hurdles final in 54.01 after fading somewhat in the later stages of the race and surrendering her third-place spot to Russian Natalya Antyukh. The race was won by American Lashinda Demus.

"I'm a bit disappointed, it's bittersweet because I was out of training for a week but I was able to come here, run the final and came fourth I would have loved to do much better, but it wasn't to be this year," Spencer had said after her race.

Meanwhile, Tracey, who broke her wrist a week earlier after a fall during training and competed in a cast, finished fourth in her semi-final with a time of 55.55 and barely missed out on the final.

'This is a good experience for me, and I am sure that it will only make me stronger," said Tracey shortly after her semi-final run.