THE EDITOR: Sir,
TWO ORGANISATIONS looked out on the world and one saw the sky and the possibilities of glory and the other looked down and saw opportunities for failure. This is the difference between the Jamaica Football Federation and the 1998 World Cup Qualifications and those in charge of Jamaica's athletics and Usain Bolt.
We have been deprived of the opportunity of seeing what by now must be one of, if not the best 200 metre runners of his age of all time. The times speak for themselves.
Since Roy Martin of the United States ran 20.13 in 1985 it has taken 18 years before another youngster (Usain Bolt) has equalled that time. This alone speaks eloquently that Bolt is unusually gifted for his age but if we need comparisons our great Donald Quarrie was not producing these times at Bolt's age. This season he has established himself as a sub-21 runner. One might even say a sub-20.50 runner.
There were eight qualifying heats in the Men's 200 metres in the first round; only two males ran under 20.5. In one heat the winner ran a pedestrian 20.82! In the second round the fastest time was a swift 20.06 and the slowest qualifying time was 20.59. At the end of the second round two of our other three entrants were eliminated, one finishing last with an embarrassing 20.73.
Are the athletic officials serious when they would have us believe that Bolt would not have performed better than his team-mates and make the semi-finals?
How could an athlete who was slated to run the 400 and 200 at the junior championships in Canada have deteriorated so badly that after missing a few days because of conjunctivitis, he could not face his seniors in an event in which he has run consistently faster times than the other Jamaican representatives? If only the officials had looked to the skies.
I am, etc.,
BRYAN SYKES
jam2001aica@yahoo.co.uk
35 Villa Road,
Sunnyside, Spanish Town
Via Go-Jamaica
