Sherone Simpson

OLYMPIC GAMES sprint relay gold medallist Sherone Simpson is predicting a better track season for herself next year.

Simpson, speaking on the KLASS Sports Radio programme Scoreboard on Wednesday, said "with God's help, I know I will be doing well come 2008".

Simpson sustained an injury while competing at the Golden League in Oslo, Norway on June 15 and was unable to return to her 2006 form, which saw her running 10.82 and 10.9 seconds However, she believes some of this year's objectives were achieved.

Plan successfull

"We had a plan ... and I think we achieved what we set out to achieve towards the latter part of the season," said Simpson, who won her only race of the season in 11.62 seconds in September.

Since her injury, Simpson had struggled to several 11.6 times.

"It was hard but I was happy that I never gave up," she said. "To run the times, after injury, that I ran in 2006, would be very difficult because I lost a lot of fitness. Running 10.8, 10.9, that was very difficult," the Commonwealth Games 200m champion added.

Problems not physical

Simpson's manager, Paul Doyle, said after her first few races that his athlete's problem was more mental than physical.

"When I heard that I was taken aback," added the former Man-chester High student. "Coming from injury, yes, you are going to be a bit cautious and I was very cautious, but I still went out there to run fast ... but, as I said, I lost a lot of fitness, so I wasn't where I was suppose to be.

"I am 100 per cent injury free ... I am just resting now and looking to training next month."