EARLIER this month when schoolboy Javon Francis told his mother Violet Palmer that he would try his best to help Jamaica secure a medal at the World Championships in Russia, little did she know that his performance would be one of the ‘most talked about’ in Russia.

However, the 42-year-old mother said she knew that the statement made by the young athlete was not one that should be taken lightly.

On Friday, the 18-year-old 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships finalist, who at age 11 was able to save a baby from a fire, produced a performance that is still being described by many track experts as “brilliant, determined and gusty”, to help Jamaica secure a silver in the 4×400-metre relay.

The run by the men’s quartet of Rusheen McDonald, Javere Bell, Edino Steele and Francis triggered mass celebrations across the island.

In sections of Bull Bay, where the teenager lives, residents could not hide their emotions.

Palmer was one of those individuals.

“I was at home watching the race on my TV and when I saw him (Francis) get the baton I could not stop jumping and shouting,” Palmer told the Sunday Observer.

The mother of five said she was always confident that he would do well based on the conversation she had with him before he departed the island for Moscow.

“Before he left he told me that he would do all he could to help his country secure a medal,” said Palmer.

She said based on the promise she was not surprised when she saw her son’s vow bearing fruit.

Palmer made the disclosure while pointing out that Francis has been doing amazing things from a tender age.

“It is from a tender age him making a name for himself. Even when him was 11 years old he was able to save a baby from a fire,” said the mother, who at the time, was not able to give details of the feat.

The performance from the men’s quartet came after sprint sensation Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce secured victory in the women’s 200-metres final.

Fraser-Pryce, with a blistering time of 22.17 seconds, secured gold ahead of Ivory Coast’s Murielle Ahoure, and Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria.

On Friday scores of Jamaicans celebrated in the streets of Half-Way-Tree to mark the performances.

“Yuh nuh si seh di girl (Fraser-Pryce) a star,” said George Shaw, as he and others watched the race from outside the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre.

“Yuh nuh si seh dem cyaan hol’ her, no matter what dem try,” added Shaw, who was wearing a Jamaican flag as a cape.

However, it was Francis’ gutsy anchor leg, which caused much delight among the crowd. The Calabar schoolboy ran a blistering leg and fended off a strong challenge by the Russian runner to finish in a season’s best 2:59.88 minutes behind the United States, who ran a

world-leading 2:58.71 minutes.

“Trust mi, di youth dem neva win [the gold], but the performance was one of sheer guts and determination; mi proud of them,” said St Catherine resident Georgette Douglas, who was on her way to school, but decided to stop and watch the race.