Jamaica's Pan American Junior Championships 400m hurdles winner Nickiesha Wilson poses with her medal on her arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. Wilson won the 400m hurdles in 57.40 seconds. - PHOTO BY ANTHONY FOSTER
HEAD COACH Dwayne Jarrett has described Jamaica's performance at the XIII Pan American Junior Athletics Championships in Windsor, Canada as 'awesome'.
"When this team left here, nobody expected this," said Jarrett shortly after members of the team touched down at the Norman Manley International Airport.
"The quality of the medals showed basically how the team performed," he added.
At the championships, Jamaica amassed three gold, five silver and two bronze for a total of 11 medals and fourth in the standing. The top three were United States, 57 (22G, 24S, 11B); Canada, 18 (2G, 5S, 11B) and hosts Cuba, 13 (6G, 4S, 3B).
Anneisha McLaughlin (200m), Nickiesha Wilson (400mH) and Latoya Greaves (100mH), all three in their final junior meet, were the gold medal winners while Natasha Ruddock (100mH), both 4x400m teams, Jermaine Jackson (long jump), Schillonie Calvert (100m) responsible for the silver medals while Sonita Sutherland (400m) and the boys' 4x100m won the bronze medals.
Jarrett said the meet was four very hard days and the team really stood up well.
"We had the corporation of the coaches and the kids actually sat down and listened," he said.
