Tamika Williams has received the best inspiration from a most unlikely source ahead of the Pan-American Games - her critics.

Some people in the athletics community may think the 800-metre runner has peaked too early but, undeterred by such statements, she is determined to rise to the occasion and fulfil two quests at once: prove her detractors wrong and qualify for next month's athletics World Championships in France.

"I am pretty positive about going to the Pan-Ams, even though some people say I peaked early. Someone said that to me and I took offence.

"I don't think that's true. I just think I went through a very difficult couple of months and I am on a comeback. I feel it in my training and I looking forward to doing very well at Pan-Ams," explained Williams, clearly still rankled by the suggestion that she may not be up to the challenge in the Dominican Republic.

"I am the kind of person who, when people make comments like that to me, it just makes me work harder and I'm always out to prove people wrong, especially those who are not used to seeing me train and not out there with me, knowing the things I am going through and how hard I work.

"It's more inspiring when people say things like that. I like being the underdog."

The 24-year-old is confident she can reach the Pan-Am finals and then "anything is possible".

"I definitely want to make it to the finals and then take it from there. Once I reach the finals I can reset my goals. I am taking it one step at a time," she said.

Regardless of how her ambitions may be reshaped, one thing is certain: a particular time will be firmly fixed in her mind - 2:01.30 minutes.

It's the 'B' standard for Worlds and it's what Williams must run if she hopes to see the Eiffel Tower next month.

"My goal for the year was to make the final in Pan-Ams and run 2.01 (minutes) and make it to World Championships and that's still my goal.

"I set that (goal) at the beginning of the year and I'm not letting go of it. Hopefully, I can get that or get really close to it. I would be happy."

While this period of training - following on the disappointment of being thwarted by water poisoning and diarrhoea at the recent CAC Championships in Grenada - is not a matter of her "entirely starting over", the two-lap specialist admits being "a little worried because things haven't gone as planned".

Having begun the year in a promising blaze, she admits her progress has derailed in recent times.

"Things got really intense with me after Mt. Sac Relays (in April where she placed fourth with a national record of 2:04.43 minutes) with my personal life and school and it was just hard to juggle everything.

"It had some effect on my training and my performances after Mount Sac but I really feel like I am coming back in my training. I have come back home and I am relaxed and getting a lot of support from my family.

"I know what I'd done up until April and my muscles and my mind remember. I am feeding off the success I had early in the season and not being troubled about what's gone on recently.

"I'm focusing on my positive performances from this year rather than the bad ones or my lack of racing," said Williams, who has been unable to get into as many meets as she anticipated.

Now training at the National Sports Centre (NSC), she is concentrating on speed work and on ensuring she stays focused for the entire race.

"Some 800 runners have a tendency to get in a daze in the middle of the race. I think for me being able to stay in the race at the 500-metre mark and really pushing it is the key.

"I have a great finish. I am a pretty speedy 800 runner so I am usually good at the end."

Apart from one American athlete, Chantee Earl - who like USA-based Williams competes for Nike Farm Team in California - the Bermudian is unsure who she will be up against at the Pan-Am Games.

That does not bother her though as her only interest will be how Tamika Williams performs.

"You never know who has decided to go or not to go. Sometimes you get to a meet and see different surprises and then other times people just don't show up.

"I am just trying to focus on me and my own performances, that's all."