Joey Duck learned that patience is a virtue during her agonising spell on the sidelines – and she believes it is finally paying off after finishing fifth in the 200m at the Sainsbury’s British Championships.
The 24-year-old from Hanslope, who has overcome a disc in her back pressing against her nerves, clocked 24.02seconds in the 200m heats to advance to the final as one of four fastest losers.
And in the final the former Northampton High School pupil went even quicker, clocking 23.88 for fifth as Liverpool Harrier Anyika Onuora blitzed her way to gold ahead of Asha Philip and Louise Bloor in 22.71.
And Duck insists she is now fully fit and raring to go after revealing her injury took its toll to such an extent that she was considering walking away from the track for good.
“I quit every day, I just didn’t want to be involved in it,” she said. “But I think actually being away from it – as well as moving away from where I was – made me start enjoying it again.
“I think in training it’s started to come together, in racing it’s frustrating because I’m not where I know I’m capable of. But as my coach said, patience – that’s my key word.”
Duck’s final time came with the assistance of an illegal wind while her personal best remains the 23.46 she clocked all the way back in the summer of 2008.
And, though she was not quite back on top form in Birmingham, she believes the experience of competing with the nation’s best again will hold her in good stead.
“I was trying to race myself fit and things might have come a little too late but this year was about trying to get back,” she added.
“Against these girls, who are running so well at the moment, it’s not easy but I’ll be there or thereabouts.
“I’ve proved something to myself. I’m a bit annoyed with a part of my race and I wanted a season best.
“But it was learning that I’ve got to come back to racing and be in this kind of environment again.
“I managed to scrape through to the final which was unexpected so there are plenty of positives.
“I have a feeling I’ll be at my best towards the end of the season which is fine for me.
“Now I’m targeting to get back to where I was, running 23 seconds and lower at the top with the best of the girls where I know I can be.”
Sainsbury’s British Championships is the second event in the Sainsbury’s Summer Series. For more information on Sainsbury’s support of world class athletics and disability sport go to www.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk/occasions/anniversary-games/