A.W. SangsterTHE SELECTION of Merlene Ottey over Peta-Gay Dowdie to run in the 100m at the Sydney Olympics has been a controversial decision. There are pros and cons and it has been the subject of much heated discussion and commentary. The JAAA has been castigated and Mr. Seaga has even called for the resignation of the executive. The issue is not an easy one, and from reports from Sydney, the team management has agonised over this decision. Some of the more important considerations are the following.
1. Picking the best team. It is indisputable that Merlene Ottey has done the best times both in the Grand Prix circuit and in the warm-up meets held in Australia before the games began. In fact she is the only one of the four women who has run under 11 seconds in the lead up to the Olympics. These were 10.91 (wind assisted in Brisbane) and 10.99 (against the wind in Thessaloniki). In terms of possible medalling or even reaching the finals, it is my view that only Merlene had a chance at either of the above. Her performance would therefore be the basis of selecting her to run over Peta-Gay, rather than any emotional leaning to 'give her a last break'. The special arguments which might be advanced, but which cannot be the basis for the selection, are that she lost many months of training time in this Olympic year due to her false suspension by the IAAF.
In addition her times have been steadily improving in the short period that she was training at 100 per cent levels.
2. Peta-Gaye Dowdie's attitude to the team management. It has been stated that her coach had instructed that after her last meet on August 7 (some seven weeks from the Olympics) when she went back to rest in the USA, she was not to participate in any meet prior to the Olympics. This meant that she did not participate in individual events or in the relays in the warm-up meets in Australia. It was in one of these events that Merlene did the time of 10.91 mentioned above. Peta-Gaye's form after the long lay-off of some seven weeks before the games, would therefore have been in doubt.
Clearly at the Olympic village a US based college coach cannot dictate to the National Coaches and team management. That coach must answer to the JAAA and the Jamaican people for messing up Peta-Gaye.
3. Pre-Olympic information and the selection process. On the basis of point No 2, it is well to note the item on the form that all athletes were given at the trials which reads as follows:
"If in a fitness level substantially less than when you participated in the National Championships on July 20-22, or injured and you are unable to return to suitable form/fitness, the management team will have no option but to re-consider your selection".
Clearly Miss Dowdie did herself a disservice by not participating in the pre-Olympic meets and gave the management team no option but to doubt her fitness. Their decision was clearly in the best interests of Jamaica. Mr. Dowdie, Peta-Gaye's father is clearly the hero in the family, for not only supporting the team management decision but also advising Peta-Gaye to stay in Sydney and run for her country. She has wisely taken his advice.
The JAAA does not have any rule that makes it obligatory (like the USA) to choose only the finalists in the trials. It is of interest to note the selection of Beverly McDonald for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics even though she was unable to compete in finals in the trials in Jamaica (after competing in the semi-finals). The caveats listed above were developed after the 1997 World Championships in Athens when Jamaica was unable to field a male sprint relay team as several of the athletes had lost form or were injured and obviously came for the ride. They would apply to all the team.
We turn now to some other issues which may have clouded the discussion.
The so-called Merlene ultimatum. Her manager Mr. Daniel Zimmerman spoke on the Breakfast Club some time ago, and made it clear that Merlene's position was that, of the four athletes who had been entered, the best three should be chosen. When this is understood, then her stance is clear and one that can be defended. While on the subject of ultimatums, members of the team in Australia were engaging in the same process in threatening not to run in various events. We should therefore avoid the obvious hypocrisy in condemning Merlene specifically although she might well have been more diplomatic in her comments to the media.
The role of the media. Some of the media and commentators have adopted an unfortunately biased and judgmental attitude in the whole affair which has done them no credit and certainly stirred the controversy in an unfortunate way.
Politics and sports. Mr. Seaga the Leader of the Opposition has been quoted as saying that the JAAA should resign. The statement is quite inappropriate both in terms of its timing and relevance.
Blocking a road
The Government has quite properly said they are staying out of the issue and leaving the team management to sort out the matter 'down under'. Indications are that sanity has prevailed.
The Athletes' protest. The athletes seemed to have believed that like back in Jamaica, blocking a road and bearing placards would bring everyone flying to solve the problem. The protest was obviously against Merlene who is quoted as saying, "After what I went through with the IAAF ban, I can deal with this". It seems from the happy photos of relay practice that this is the case. Certainly the controversy has brought Merlene into the village with her team-mates, which represents a different approach to previous games and makes her a better team player. Indications are that the protesting athletes are sorry and have apologised for their stupid and inexcusable behaviour. It is now up to all Jamaica to rally round the Jamaican team -athletes and officials in the final stretch of the games.
The JAAA management. We have short memories and have forgotten the struggles that President Adrian Wallace has gone through in the vindication of Miss Ottey, an initiative that might not have been taken by other leaders. In addition, in December 1998 the JAAA hosted a special celebration of excellence function at Vale Royal to recognise Jamaica's Women in Athletics'. That function specially recognised Merlene who had been chosen by the IAAF as their patron for the year of 'Women in Athletics'- 1998 being the United Nations year of women. Mr. Wallace has brought to his incumbency as president of the JAAA, a sense of quiet non-adversarial professionalism. He can also be said to be the 'Athletes President'. Adrian, if you can read this, hang tough and don't be frightened by the adverse publicity. If you bring home medals the waggonists will clamber to congratulate the medal winners. This controversy will be another of our usual nine-day wonders. The Sydney Olympic team management report should also make interesting reading. It will be of interest to compare this one with the management disasters of the Moscow and Los Angeles Olympics, events that have been mostly forgotten.
A.W. Sangster is the former president of the University of Technology.
