Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
( L - R ) MCDONALD AND PARRIS-THYMES
TWO OF Jamaica's leading female athletes for the past decade, World Championships relay gold medallists Beverley McDonald and Debbie-Ann Parris-Thymes, have retired from the sport.
The 35-year-old McDonald, in a telephone interview with The Gleaner yesterday, said August's World Championships in Helsinki was her last meet.
"I think it was time for me to quit ... after 13 years (at senior level), a lot of pounding on my body and I just don't love it anymore," said
McDonald who finished her career with personal best times over 100 and 200 metres of 10.99 seconds and 22.22.
At the moment, she doesn't have any immediate plans.
"I'm just going out there with (coach) Raymond (Stewart) sometimes helping out."
McDonald, who is based in Texas, won an individual silver in the 200m at the 1999 World Championships and she listed this as her career highlight.
"It would have to be the World Championships when I got the silver medal in the 200m, and then 2000 Olympic (fourth 200m, second 4x100m)," said McDonald who first represented Jamaica in 1987 at the junior level.
The former many-time national 200m champion also won silver in the 100m and 200m Commonwealth Games 1998; Gold on the 4x100m relay quartet and third in the 100m at the Pan American Games in 1991; and gold in 4x100 relay at the World Championships 1991.
Also speaking to The Gleaner by phone, Parris-Thymes confirmed her retirement.
"Yes, I have retired," said the 400 hurdler, who also ran on Jamaica's 4x400m gold medal quartet at the Paris World Championships.
"I just think it's time for me to look to new challenges. I have done very well in track and field over the last couple of years.
"I have been very appreciative of the opportunity I was given to compete at the level I competed at but at this point it's not bad to seek new challenges in your life," she pointed out.
The 32-year-old Paris last represented Jamaica at August's World Championships in Helsinki where she was a semi-finalist.
In July, Parris-Thymes won gold at the Central American & Caribbean Championships in Nassau, Bahamas.
Parris will now work as the assistant coach at Louisiana State University (LSU), the institution for which she won back-to-back 400m hurdles titles in 1993-94.
Parris-Thymes was a silver medallist on Jamaica's 4x400m team at the 1992 World Junior Championships. She also won silver at the last Commonwealth Games and bronze in 1994; took gold at the CAC Championships in 1993 and was second at the World University Games this same year.
She was a fourth place finisher behind Deon Hemmings at the 1996 Olympic Games, and according to her, this was her best moment in Jamaica's colours.
"I got a feeling of national pride that was not just there as a part of the team, but I was there when Jamaica won it's first female gold medal and I was in that event.
"It really brought a great feeling of national pride for me," said Parris-Thymes who first represented Jamaica at the 1994 World Junior in Seoul.
