Southend AC's internationalsprinter Sarah Wilhelmyis steeling herself for a critical period in her career after two new setbacks.

The former British100m champion willreluctantly undergo hydrocortisone injections next week in abid to shrug off the back injury which saw her write off the entire 2002 season.

To add insult to injury,sheis also expecting her lottery funding to be cut. It is performance relatedandher summer of enforced inactivitycould prove costly.

The injury is an inflamation of the facet joint at the bottom of her back and attempts to sort it out naturally through physiotherapy have failed.

Sarah, 22, admitted: "It's really frustrating because I feel like I'm travelling around from one treatment table to another at the moment."

Sarah has beenunable to run and has had to make do with working out on cross-training machinesin the gym.

But she hopes the injections can get her back in action by the start of November.

Published Friday October 18, 2002

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