Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Sherone Simpson gets prepared for a race at the Queens High School/Grace Jackson Atlethics meet at the National Stadium East field. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Paul Doyle, manager of top Jamaican athlete Sherone Simpson, attributed her poor run in the women's 100 metres at yesterday's Herculis Super Grand Prix in Monaco to a 'mental problem'.

Simpson, who was forced to miss the National Championships with a hip injury which she suffered at the Golden League Meeting in Oslo on June 15 this year, returned yesterday with a slow 11.75 seconds to close the gate in the women's 100m in Monaco.

In a telephone interview with The Gleaner from Monaco, Doyle said Simpson was not hurt.

"She just never get going," Doyle said. "I think it was more of a mental problem," he added.

No injury, no pain

"She wasn't able to let go and run freely," he continued, while stating that there is "no injury, no pain or anything".

With the 11th IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, less than a month away, there are concerns about Simpson's fitness.

Based on the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) rule, athletes like Simpson who do not compete at the National Championships and are ranked in the top three of their event in the world can be considered for a place, but only if they return to top form.

The rule states: "Athletes with top-three world rankings who are ill or injured at the time of the National Championships may still be considered for selection, but they must prove their world ranking form prior to the final submission of the entries for the competition."

The final submission for entries is August 13.

Simpson is scheduled to compete next at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Britain on August 3.

Doyle hopes that "next time she will be able to let go and run more freely".

He also says they are hoping she will regain top form and get a place on Jamaica's team for the August 25-September 2 World Championships.

Campbell the only winner

Meanwhile, Clement Campbell was the only Jamaican winner at yesterday's meet in Monaco.

Campbell won the men's 100m in 10.17, the same time as Wallace Spearmon, the American runner who was declared second past the finish line. Jamaicans Nesta Carter 10.22 and Michael Frater 10.23 were third and fourth respectively.

Melaine Walker was the next-best placed Jamaican, finishing second in the women's 400m hurdles in 54.32 seconds behind Jana Rawlison (53.40) of Australia.

Michael Blackwood (45.05) and Sanjay Ayre (45.39) were third and fifth respectively in the men's 400m won by the United States' LaShawn Merritt (44.38).

In the men's 400m hurdles, Isa Phillips finished sixth in 49.73. American Angelo Taylor won the event in 48.45.