Nicholas Maitland

Quarter-miler Nicolas Maitland is planning on using his bronze medal performance at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia this year as a springboard for greater things to come for 2014. He says his aim is to break the 45-second barrier.

The 24-year-old student of the University of the West Indies ran a personal best 45.63s to finish third behind Russia's Vladminir Krasnov (45.49) and Brazil's Andreson Henriques (45.50) to win one of Jamaica's four medals at the championships.

Maitland was on Saturday night among members of the Jamaican delegation to the Games honoured at a special ceremony held at the Blue Mahoe Lounge at the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston.

"Kazan was a great performance for me. I really enjoyed it. I learned a lot from it. I learnt more about my event so I am hoping for a better performance next season," he said.

The former 400-metre hurdler who is now only focusing on the flat-four said the things he has discovered will only help to spur him on.

"In running the 400m you need a lot more endurance than speed endurance. Speed endurance can only take you so far so you need high endurance background training. I am just hoping to grow next season."

The student athlete who said he felt proud to have been recognised for his bronze medal performance said the decision to give up the 400-metre hurdles going forward came at the end of a collective agreement between himself and his coach (Glen Mills) as to what was in his best interest.

"We looked at where I would do best and then made our decision from there," he said, adding that he might one day return to the hurdles later in his career.

Maitland's teammate in Kazan, Anastasia Leroy, who won bronze in the women's 400m said she too, learned a lot from her experience in Kazan.

"It was a great experience. It was my first individual medal and it showed that I just need to work harder if I am to get on top," said the quarter-miler who has a personal best of 51.09 run five years ago. She was among the athletes honoured on Saturday night.

The 26-year-old graduate of G.C. Foster College said she has been putting things in place and working on strengthening her weak areas to ensure that she does better next year.

In addition to Maitland and Leroy, shot putter Raymond Brown, discus thrower Traves Smikle, sprint hurdler Danielle Williams, sprinters Rasheed Dwyer and Nicholas Watson, and triple jumper Shanieka Thomas were recognised on the night.