Melaine Walker after running the 400m hurdles at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany. - photos by Oliver Wright

Relatives and friends attribute the success of athletes during the World Championships in Berlin, Germany, recently to prayer.

Maxine Simpson, the mother of Shelly-Ann Fraser, said, "She advised Shelly-Ann to pray, put God before her and He will bring her through."

"Last night (last Tuesday) I gathered with my church choir and prayer group, prayed for Brigitte and asked God to guide her to the finish line," said Primrose Palmer, mother of Brigitte Foster-Hylton.

In addition, Veronica Campbell-Brown's mother, Pamela Bailey, said: "Sometimes we have to just have some faith and thank God.

"Prayer always works, I don't know that prayer by itself without preparation would work but I have to commend the athletes in their preparation. It worked because God never fails to keep His promises," commented the Reverend Glen Samuels, who was asked to comment on what some perceive as divine intervention.

Have to work

Jamaica's Usain Bolt reacts after signing autographs and greeting fans during the World Championships in Athletics.

Samuels and other church leaders were responding to questions posed to them, such as why they believed prayer worked successfully for the athletes, against why prayers for peace across the nation was not so effective "As a nation, we can't just pray for peace, we have to work on things like social justice, good neighbours and once we do those things, I think that we will realise peace," said Samuels.

The Reverend Bobby Wilmott responded by saying: "A combination of things, including the hard work of the athletes themselves, attributed to their success. We began believing in ourselves and we saw the MVP club set a base for others to follow." Wilmott stressed that success breeds success.

"The success of the MVP club has inspired us."

Others believed there was more at stake for Jamaica and that people should look more deeply into the reason for Jamaica's success.

Special purpose

"I think it's maybe because a lot of Jamaican people are praying. I believe God has a special purpose for Jamaica. It's not that He is favouring one set of persons over another but sometimes He has a purpose for different nations and at this time He has a purpose for the nation of Jamaica," said Major Richard Cooke.

"I believe that you are going to see that that is going to happen. God is a God of process, we don't see immediate answers. I believe if we pray we will see peace in the nation. If people don't cooperate, He will allow it for a while and then remove it. We are going to see a change in the nation and also in our economic state," he continued.