A 58-year-old man yesterday knelt in a small church located along Maxfield Avenue, a tough inner-city community in Jamaica and whispered a prayer.

More than 8,000 miles away in the city of Daegu, South Korea his daughter Melanie Walker was about to take to the starter’s line in the IAAF World Championships 400 metre hurdle finals.

The man, Japheth Walker, prayer which lasted no more than a minute was simple: “Lord give her the strength to compete to the best of her ability and make us proud.”

His every word rested heavily on the hearts of athletic fans right across the island

In the end, Walker did not win the gold, but her silver medal sparked loud cheers and celebration as fans and family jumped for joy.

The cheers were perhaps the loudest in Maxfield Avenue, the community where Walker grew up, as fans did not take light to the fact that the Walker, the woman who holds the Olympic record of 52.64 set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and who has the second fastest time in history, went into the race suffering from injury.

“Walker with an injury finished the race in a time of 52.73 seconds, her season’s best,” said Garfield Campbell, brother of the athlete.

Campbell pointed out that it was only an American record run from athlete Lashinda Demus that could deny Walker from winning the race.

“Melanie is a champion,” cried Campbell.

Jenefer Wilson, Walker’s mother who shared in the moment, was all smiles.

“My daughter is always a fighter. I am so proud of her,” said Wilson, who said Walker always performed when it mattered.

Yesterday dozens of fans who gathered around the family in Maxfield to celebrated shouted in agreement.

“This is a great, great achievement. I could not have expected better,’ said Elaine Walker Brown, another close relative of Walker.