Injury curse strikes once more for triple jumper Williams

By David Jordan, Sportsbeat

WORLD triple jump youth champion Ben Williams admits he's been forced to dig out last year's battle plan after suffering an injury scare ahead of this weekend's World Junior Championships trials.

INJURY CURSE: Ben Williams heads to Bedford with the exact same injury as last year after damaging ankle ligaments in Loughborough

Williams, in a mirror image of his start to the 2009 campaign, tweaked his ankle ligaments jumping at the Loughborough International - his first competition of the season.

Twelve months ago the 18-year-old bounced back from his early setback to claim World Youth Championship gold later in the summer with a leap of 15.91m in Italy.

And after clawing his way back to fitness once more, Williams is desperate to make up for lost time in Bedford at the England Under-20 Championships, which double up as the World Junior Trials.

"It was disappointing to be sidelined so early in the season and then when I tried to come back in training I suffered a groin strain so it hasn't been the best start to the year," said Williams, who already holds the qualification standard for July's World Junior Championships.

"I did the exact same thing this time last year, I injured my ankle ligaments at the exact same meeting last year so suffice to say I won't be going back there again next year.

"I was going quite well and then I just rolled my ankle and injured my ligaments in my ankle which stopped me from producing any big take offs.

"I think my comeback event will be at Bedford, at the trials, so it will be interesting to test myself against that calibre of opponent on my return.

"I did go on and do well last year so I'm not too down about it. I'm still full of confidence for the season ahead.

 "I don't think it will affect my performance too badly but we will have to wait and see. I still want to go there and put a good mark down even if my preparations haven't been perfect."