Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Yesterday's commendable fifth-place finish by Manchester-born Anneisha McLaughlin in the 200m in a time of 22:62 at the World Champion-ships in Athletics, is almost being viewed as "golden" to her fans in Mandeville, and certainly, her family and friends in the small, remote Manchester community of St Paul's, near Balaclava.

For three years, the giant billboard erected on the southern corridor of Winston Jones Highway - the gateway to the town of Mandeville with the celebratory image of former Holmwood star, McLaughlin, has been fading.

Her career - certainly before the national championships in June - never seemed to reflect the motto posted on the sign: "Aiming for greatness."

The billboard, sponsored by Fontanna Pharmacy, was erected in 2003, shortly after McLaughlin declared her status as one of the key figures in Jamaica's drive for world success when she won the 200m on the same stage as Usain Bolt at the World Junior Championships hosted that year in Kingston.

But things changed dramatically for the woman credited with winning the most medals as a junior for Jamaica when she left for junior college in the United States in 2006.

Reports then surfaced that she had lost the passion and that her amazing talent - especially in her pet event, the 200m - would never be shown at the international level with other seniors.

The 23-second barrier remained elusive until the Berlin championships, where she achieved consecutive career best times after posting 22.91 in the first round and lowering it to her personal best, 22.55.