Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

The president of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association, Howard Aris, chats with World Championships team member Anastasia LeRoy after the team arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport on Tuesday night. In the background is manager Ludlow Watts. The Jamaicans came back with a record 10-medal haul. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

LONG-TIME manager of Jamaica track and field teams, Ludlow Watts, hailed the record medal haul by the national team at the 11th World Championships in Osaka, Japan, as one of the best he has seen.

Great achievement

"This is one of the best performances I've seen in terms of achievement," Watt told journalists at the Norman Manley International Airport on Tuesday night. "Let's face it, we got 10 medals, we placed fourth in terms of total medals and fourth in terms of IAAF ranking points," he said.

"Overall, Jamaica coming fourth among 202 countries is a great achievement and I am feeling really great about that fact."

The athletes, minus many of the big names who have gone off to continue their Grand Prix season in Europe, returned tothe island on Tuesday night following their historic per-formance in Japan.

Eighth overall

With their medal count of 10 (one gold, six silver and three bronze), Jamaica finished fourth in overall medals behind the United States, who had 14 gold, four silver and eight bronze - for a total of 18; Russia (four gold, nine silver, three bronze - 16); and Kenya (five gold, three silver, five bronze - 13).

The team finished eighth overall. The next IAAF World Championships will be held in Berlin, Germany, from August 15-23, 2009.