AFTER failing to win an individual medal in the Women’s 400 metres event at the Olympic Games, Rosemarie Whyte set her mind on finishing the season strongly and was rewarded with her first Diamond League victory and a season’s best.

Whyte, one of two Jamaicans to make the Olympic final in London, finished in last position in 50.79 seconds, but after a two-week rest, she improved to win at the IAAF Diamond League in Birmingham, then closed the season with a season’s best 50.08 in Zegreb, Croatia earlier this month.

In an interview with the Jamaica Observer last week, Whyte, who won a bronze medal as part of the 4x400m relay team, said she was pleased with her season overall as she had achieved most of her goals.

“I’m really happy with my season. My main aim was to finish injury-free and in the last race I ran a season best and I’m grateful,” said the former Holmwood Technical star.

She had a lot of people to thank, including coach Glen Mills and the Racers Track Club, which she said “took me through the season”.

Whyte said after finishing outside of the medal frame in London, “I just set my mind to finish the season fast, and that’s what I did”. She added that while the rest after the Olympics was good, “I wasn’t tired at all”.

After her off-season rest, Whyte said she is setting her sights on a place on the team to the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia next August, where she hopes to make it to the podium for the first time in an individual event at a global championships.