JAMAICA PERFORMED with some amount of distinction to accumulate its biggest medal haul - 10 - at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan, which ended on Sunday.
The numbers placed Jamaica (one gold, six silver and three bronze) fourth overall in medals won behind the United States (26), Russia (16) and Kenya (13), and eighth in the overall table.
As good as the overall performance was though, one must admit that on and off the track there were some foul-ups tha the team's chances of winning some better quality medals, or even earning a medal, in some instances.
These discrepancies were most evident in the relays where Jamaica won silver in both the men's and women's 4x100s, silver in the women's 4x400 and ran themselves out of a silver medal position on anchor to finish fourth in the men's equivalent over a mile.
Straight off the bat, had the baton changes been halfway decent in the men's 4x100m relay, especially, there is no doubt that Jamaica would have beaten the United States for gold. In fact, a world-record run was hugely possible but, as usual, the passing of the baton was a let-down.
Major glitches took place on the first changeover with Usain Bolt getting the baton in a standing position and the immediate leg after almost the very same thing happened to Nesta Carter. Split-second timing was also missed on the final handover but, thanks to a marvellous run by Asafa Powell, who sliced through the field like knife on hot butter, Jamaica won silver.
It was a brilliant comeback by 9.77-second world record holder Powell, following his bronze medal finish in a sub-par 9.96 seconds in the 100m; and his subsequent admission of a surrender. In spite of all the flops, the team also established a new national record.
Corner runner
One can't help thinking, how-ever, what might have happened had the changes been better, and what appears a better-lay-out with Steve Mullings running the first leg to Marvin Anderson, then Bolt running the thirdleg as he is really the fastest corner runner, handing over to Powell.
These choices are made by the coaches and it would be interesting to know the decisions that affected their thinking.
This also holds true for the women's sprint relay, where the experienced Aleen Bailey, a tried and proven runner and team player with an Olympic gold medal, who ran into form at the right time for the World Champs, was excluded at the expense of Simone Facey who looked slow and off form on the third leg, where the U.S. again opened a huge lead that made the winning task of the anchor runner, Veronica Campbell, impossible.
Like Powell and Campbell, the anchor-leg run by flat 400 bronze medallist, Novlene Williams, was simply fantastic as she held her position under constant pressure from Britain's 400 silver medal winner, Nicola Sanders, to maintain silver in the 4x400.
The same cannot be said about national champion Sanjay Ayre, who did the last leg on the men's mile relay.
Let this be very clear, I am not blaming Ayre, in any shape or form, whatsoever.
What I find baffling is how the coaching staff jeopardised the country's chances of a medal, and that of the entire team, by using a runner who is clearly not fit.
Ayre went to the World Champion-ships to run the 400m primarily. He did not finish his individual event in the semi-finals as he pulled up. How on earth then could Ayre have even been considered for a relay leg? Beats me.
Deeper issue
Jamaican team members (from left) Veronica Campbell, Kerron Stewart, Simone Facey and Sheri-Ann Brooks celebrate after the team won the silver medal in the 4x100m relay final. - AP
Also, there appears to be a deeper issue at play here. The man seen as an obvious choice for a spot on the relay, former 400m flat runner turned hurdler Danny McFarlane, hit out at the way he believes he has been handled over the years and demanded a piece of the pie at the expense or stop representing the country, following his creditable run to finish fifth in his individual event, the 400m hurdles.
I can imagine the coaching and management staff, inclusive of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), taking a decision not to include McFarlane for the finals based solely on that tirade. But what of the stronger 200m runners in the squad, including Bolt, a largely underutilised but proven 400m talent, and Marvin Anderson.
I sincerely believe they would have done better than their unhealthy teammate.
And whatever the belief, indicative by comments made by the self-made McFarlane, there are other issues that the JAAA must deal with in terms of how it handles its current generation of athletes. McFarlane, like some in the team, is from a different generation and it is not an unusual complaint in sport - that others with less to show are benefitting from the local governing body and he's not.
A well-deserved reward
McFarlane, much by way of his own exploits, has achieved nine Olympic and World Championship medals and, even though one might not agree with the timing and stage at which he expressed his concerns, fair consideration should be given to a man crying out for his due.
The JAAA must also analyse how it deals with its athletes too, at least, make it appear balanced.
At this same Osaka championships, reference can be made to two persons, on and off the track, who also complained constantly of the same issue of unfair treatment by the JAAA, but dealt with it differently.
One is Merlene Ottey, an athlete made an ambassador by the country, who switched allegiance and now competes for Slovenia. The other is Don Quarrie, now a coach of the team, who fought tooth and nail to the point where he is now a part of the team influencing decisions and contributing to Jamaica's development also by drawing some of the best talent from across the world here for the annual Jamaica Invitational meet.
Only that level of participation with the best talent - on the track forrelay teams and off the track in coaching and administration - will combine to ensure Jamaica achieves its true potential by performing with such exception on the world stage.
Feedback: audley.boyd@gleanerjm.com
