Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer
MCLAUGHLIN
WORLD JUNIOR Champion-ships 200m silver medallist, Anneisha McLaughlin, will miss Jamaica's trip to the North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Cham-pionships because of a knee injury.
The 20-year-old sprinter has sustained recurring left knee injury and, therefore, will not make the trip to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
"The doctor believes it's a meniscus tear, but he could not confirm without an MRI," Holmwood coach Maurice Wilson said yesterday, while adding that McLaughlin was on her way to see a doctor who specialises in those injuries.
"She definitely will be out for the Under-23. It would be unfair to the national team to send her," said Wilson, who has been working with McLaughlin since her arrival in Jamaica for holidays. "She left to do an MRI last week, but the machine broke down."
McLaughlin, a member of Jamaica's World Juniors sprint relay gold medal winning team in 2002, was one of six females named in the 17-member squad. When contacted yesterday, the Jamaica Amateur could not confirm whether a replacement would be named to travel with the team tomorrow.
"She really wants to run, but it makes no sense because it would be unfair to her teammates, especially since she will be part of the relay team," Wilson added.
Wilson said thaT McLaughlin, the 2003 World Youth 200m champion, "felt it (pain) coming off the turn in the 200m final at National Championships."
He said it she felt a similar pain in training a few weeks before. Wilson, however, stated that it was too early to say if McLaughlin, who won four gold medals - 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m in her final year at Champs - would be fit for the CAC Games trip in Columbia from July 25-29.
