WORLD JUNIORS: Judd powers to new personal best and 800m silver

Posted: Thursday 12th July 2012 | 22:28

JESSICA Judd admitted she was left emotional after a gutsy personal best performance secured 800m silver at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona.

Rising British star Judd clocked 2:01.96 to finish just behind American Ajee Wilson while Morocco's Manal El Bahraoul completed the podium.

Last year she won bronze at the World Youth Championships and the 17-year old is already planning another upgrade in two years time.

“I am really emotional, I didn’t expect to get a silver,” she said.

“I gave it absolutely all I had and with one hundred meters to go I thought I was going to win the gold. I just didn’t quite have the reaction, but I am still so happy.

“To win a medal like I did takes a lot of guts; I got boxed quite badly the first time on the home straight, I got spiked, but I stepped in and kicked in the last 200 – unfortunately, I couldn’t keep it going until the end.

“I am only 17 – the plan is to go to the World Juniors in two years, in America, and win the gold there.”