World Champs - Lesser lights sparkled, too

[Karl]

Lesser lights sparkled, too
published: Saturday | September 8, 2007

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer


Athletes cross the finish line during the women's 100 metres finals. Veronica Campbell of Jamaica (in yellow) won the event.- REUTERS

WORLD 100 metres champion Veronica Campbell won three medals and Maurice Smith performed superbly for silver in the decathlon, but a couple of Jamaica's lesser lights also shone at the 11th IAAF World Championships, which ended in the beautiful Japanese city of Osaka, last Sunday.Despite leaving the city, which is the home of more than three million people, without an individual medal, Nickeisha Wilson and Marvin Anderson, as far as Jamaica's performances were concerned, in my opinion, were the highlights of the championships.

In the women's 400m hurdles, Melaine Walker was tipped to win a medal, but it was Wilson, who was virtually unknown at this level, that went the closest. She finished fourth in the final in 54.10.In the semi-finals, the former Alpha student, now attending LSU, ran 53.97 - a career best, which took her into the top eight of the event.

three impressive runs
In the men's 200m, Anderson, who many believed would not get past the second round after he entered with a personal best of 20.30, surprised with three impressive runs and proved he was a worthy replacement for Clement Campbell, who finished third at the National Championships.

Anderson, who finished sixth in the final, opened up with 20.43 and then ran 20.13 in the quarter-finals, but it was his run in the semi-finals, 20.06, which stands out. It made him the fourth fastest Jamaican ever over the distance - only behind Usain Bolt (19.75), Olympic Games gold medallist Donald Quarrie (19.86), Asafa Powell (19.91) and Christopher Williams (20.02).

Ludlow Watts, the leader of Jamaica's team at the Championships, agreed Wilson and Anderson were outstanding."Nickeisha Wilson, just prior to Pan Am Games, was over 55.20 and she improved at the Pan Am Games to 54.94. Then at these championships she ran 53.97; and then Marvin Anderson going from 20.30 to 20.06 ... that was extremely good," said Watts.

Special mention must also be made of Smith, who became the first Jamaican to win a medal in the decathlon at a major championship.
Smith scored a national record 8,644 points for the silver, beaten by Roman Sebrle of Czech Republic (8,676 points). Smith bettered his Jamaican record of 8,349 points.

commendable performance
Though it was expected, Campbell's overall performance of gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m and 4x100m relay must be commended as she ran nine races in eight days.

Usain Bolt picked up silver in the men's 200m, Novlene Williams claimed bronze in the women's 400m and Delloreen Ennis-London also grabbed bronze in the women's 100m hurdles. A somewhat disappointing Asafa Powell snared bronze in the men's 100m. The men's and women's 4x100m and the women's 4x400m relay teams all claimed silvers behind the United States.

Jamaica, who finished fourth in the placings table with 98 points - behind the U.S. (249), Russia (191) and Kenya (123), were eighth overall on the medals table.
The country's record medal haul of 10 medals (one gold, six silver, three bronze), two more than last time in Helsinki, put them behind the U.S. (14G, 4S, 8B), Kenya (5G, 3S, 5B), Russia (4G, 9S, 3B), Ethiopia (3G, 1S), Germany (2G, 2S, 3B), the Czech Republic (2G, 1S), and Australia (2G).

[Karl]

& Gleaner EDITORIAL: The heroes of Osaka did Jamaica proud

The heroes of Osaka did Jamaica proud
published: Saturday | September 8, 2007



Jamaica's athletes have again demonstrated the depth of the island's track and field talent with a record-breaking medal haul at the recently concluded 11th IAAF World Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Under hot and humid conditions in Japan's second city, the athletes kept the national flag flying high with several medal-winning performances inside the magnificent Nagai Stadium. Our heartiest congratulations to not only the athletes but to the support staff, including the coaches and the management team headed by Ludlow Watts.

Ten medals and eighth position overall in a field of 203 countries is no mean feat for a small island nation. In addition to the very good performances which kept Jamaica among the elite in world track and field, the meet also provided excellent exposure for the island as the event was watched by thousands in Japan and millions around the world.

The leading performer was undoubtedly Veronica Campbell who won the only gold in the 100 metres and silver medals in the 200 metres and 4x100m relay. The gold medal tally could well have been more than doubled. Several athletes came very close to getting the ultimate prize.

Novlene William, after a gallant run, was only caught on the line in the women's 400 metres final. But for injury to his throwing arm, Maurice Smith could have covered himself in glory by becoming the world's best allround athlete with victory in the gruelling decathlon. Then there were also near misses in the women's and men's 4x100 metres relays.

There were also disappointments. The biggest of all came in the men's 100m final where world record holder, Asafa Powell, a big favourite for the gold medal, could only manage third and a bronze.

Trecia Smith, the gold medallist in the triple jump from the last Championships in Helsinki, was slowed by injury and she limped out of the competition after the preliminary stage.

If Veronica was the overall star among Jamaica's women the standout for the men was surely Maurice Smith. He surprised many by leading on the first day and for most of the second before he fell short in the javelin event. Victory would surely have placed his performance on the same plain as that of the four legends of Helsinki - Les Laing, Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley and George Rhoden - who conquered the world in 1952 and won gold in the Olympic Games 4x400m in Finland.

It is now expected that those directly concerned, the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association and the athletes, in conjunction with the Jamaica Olympic Association, will double their efforts as they make preparations for next year's Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Three years ago in Athens, Jamaica had a very good Games, earning two gold, a silver and two bronze medals. The performances in Osaka underline the fact that the talent is there to improve on that performance. Organisation and planning will be crucial in upcoming months and it is hoped that the athletes will be given every incentive to perform at the highest level on sports biggest stage.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.