THE parents of 400m hurdler Kaliese Spencer say they are proud of their daughter’s achievement despite missing out on a medal in yesterday’s final at the 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea.

Spencer, who has been leading the world in the event in the last two season’s and was last year’s Diamond League Jackpot winner, went into the championships being highly favoured to take the title.

She ended up fourth in a time of 54.01 seconds behind the USA’s Lashinda Demus in a world-leading 52.47 seconds; countrywoman Melaine Walker (52.73), and Russia’s Natalya Antyukh, 53.85.

Speaking to the Observer from his home in Toronto, Canada, Spencer’s dad, Joshua, said he was able to watch the race via the Internet after being sent a link by a friend.

“I’m very proud of my daughter,” said Spencer. “She was expecting some kind of medal. The media didn’t know until recently that she has been nursing a hamstring injury and a groin problem.”

The elder Spencer said unknown to a lot of Jamaicans, Kaliese had been struggling with injury for some time and that might have had an impact on her performance at the World Championships.

“She actually went with Asafa (Powell) together to Ireland to get treatment. She was very nervous that she wasn’t even going to be able to compete,” he explained, adding that he had communicated with her since the race in South Korea.

“Going from the tone of the words she sounded quite optimistic and I encouraged her and she seems to know it’s the injuries. She doesn’t like to make excuses… we thought that the same thing that happened to Asafa would happen to her.”

The athlete’s mother, Merfelin, and her sister Kadisha, watched the race with a friend from their home in Darliston, Westmoreland, and Merfelin said while she was also disappointed with her failure to medal, there was no restraint in the pride she felt.

“… I think she has done well and I’m proud of her. I think she tried,” the retired guidance and counselling teacher stated.

“I saw the race and she tried very hard but missed out on the medal. She was disappointed but she didn’t show it. She was very nervous this morning, but she has accepted the outcome.”

The proud mother said she had been in constant communication with Kaliese since her arrival in Daegu, but unfortunately, she had been unable to speak to her following yesterday’s race because her usual mode of communication, BlackBerry Messenger, was down.

Meanwhile Joshua Spencer, also a trained teacher, added that he had given her some words of encouragement as she continues her career.

“I told her congratulations for the hard work and that she mustn’t give up,” he said.