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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>Top Athlete off Ja team</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline>Robertsons' omission due to disciplinary reasons, says source</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>KAYON RAYNOR, Observer staff reporter
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=349 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>ROBERTSON ... was reportedly suspended by the JAAA for disciplinary reasons</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>WHEN Jamaica begin their quest for medals at the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing, China, next week, the team will be without one of its main prospects, Josef Robertson.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The nation's world number two ranked junior 400-metre hurdler has cited a long-standing hamstring injury for his non-departure for China with the rest of the team last week.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"I'm a bit disappointed," Robertson told the Observer yesterday. "But I guess it's for the best, because I still have a slight hamstring strain and I'm nursing it right now," he added.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The hamstring injury forced Robertson to stop running during the 17th Central American and Caribbean Junior Track & Field Championships in Trinidad and Tobago in mid-July.<P class=StoryText align=justify>At the time, head coach of the CAC Junior team John Mair dismissed fears of any serious injury. "Both athletes had cramps, not as serious as strains...," Mair said, referring to the injury scares of Robertson and Schillonie Calvert, who also suffered hamstring problems.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Josef, he had complained about a little soreness and he had to stop after the third hurdle in the 400 because it felt a little uncomfortable, but he's all right walking and doing a little jogging," added Mair.<P class=StoryText align=justify>However, contrary to Robertson's claim, the Observer understands that the athlete was left off the team due to disciplinary reasons.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Information is that Robertson was suspended by the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), following an incident which occurred during a training camp at GC Foster College.
There is yet no official word from the JAAA, which named the hurdler among 29 athletes for the Junior Championships, to be contested from August 15-20.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Robertson, who clocked 52.47 seconds to win gold at the Carifta Games in Guadeloupe in April, was initially named in the country's squad, comprising 15 boys and 14 girls, on August 2, one day before the team travelled to London, en route to Beijing for a one-week camp ahead of the games.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The JAAA organised the camp in Beijing, which was due to begin on Sunday, designed to get the athletes acclimatised to conditions in China, which is some 12 hours ahead of Jamaica.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Robertson holds the second fastest junior time of 50.24 seconds in the 400-metre hurdles worldwide. Only Chris Carter of the United States, with a season best of 49.19 secs, has run faster than the Wolmer's Boys' School student.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Jamaica are among a record 182 countries down to compete at the Championships. The next greatest number of participating teams was the 170 countries that competed at the 1998 edition in Annecy, France.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Jamaica will be seeking to better the four silver and five bronze medals won two years ago in Italy.<P class=StoryText align=justify>TEAM: GIRLS - Natasha Ruddock (100mH), Sherene Pinnock (400mH, 4x400m), Bobby-Gaye Wilkins (400m, 4x400m), Schillonie Calvert (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Kettiany Clarke (100mH), Naffene Bri
<SPAN class=Subheadline>Robertsons' omission due to disciplinary reasons, says source</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>KAYON RAYNOR, Observer staff reporter
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=349 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD><SPAN class=Description>ROBERTSON ... was reportedly suspended by the JAAA for disciplinary reasons</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><P class=StoryText align=justify>WHEN Jamaica begin their quest for medals at the 11th IAAF World Junior Championships in Beijing, China, next week, the team will be without one of its main prospects, Josef Robertson.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The nation's world number two ranked junior 400-metre hurdler has cited a long-standing hamstring injury for his non-departure for China with the rest of the team last week.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"I'm a bit disappointed," Robertson told the Observer yesterday. "But I guess it's for the best, because I still have a slight hamstring strain and I'm nursing it right now," he added.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The hamstring injury forced Robertson to stop running during the 17th Central American and Caribbean Junior Track & Field Championships in Trinidad and Tobago in mid-July.<P class=StoryText align=justify>At the time, head coach of the CAC Junior team John Mair dismissed fears of any serious injury. "Both athletes had cramps, not as serious as strains...," Mair said, referring to the injury scares of Robertson and Schillonie Calvert, who also suffered hamstring problems.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"Josef, he had complained about a little soreness and he had to stop after the third hurdle in the 400 because it felt a little uncomfortable, but he's all right walking and doing a little jogging," added Mair.<P class=StoryText align=justify>However, contrary to Robertson's claim, the Observer understands that the athlete was left off the team due to disciplinary reasons.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Information is that Robertson was suspended by the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA), following an incident which occurred during a training camp at GC Foster College. There is yet no official word from the JAAA, which named the hurdler among 29 athletes for the Junior Championships, to be contested from August 15-20.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Robertson, who clocked 52.47 seconds to win gold at the Carifta Games in Guadeloupe in April, was initially named in the country's squad, comprising 15 boys and 14 girls, on August 2, one day before the team travelled to London, en route to Beijing for a one-week camp ahead of the games.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The JAAA organised the camp in Beijing, which was due to begin on Sunday, designed to get the athletes acclimatised to conditions in China, which is some 12 hours ahead of Jamaica.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Robertson holds the second fastest junior time of 50.24 seconds in the 400-metre hurdles worldwide. Only Chris Carter of the United States, with a season best of 49.19 secs, has run faster than the Wolmer's Boys' School student.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Jamaica are among a record 182 countries down to compete at the Championships. The next greatest number of participating teams was the 170 countries that competed at the 1998 edition in Annecy, France.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Jamaica will be seeking to better the four silver and five bronze medals won two years ago in Italy.<P class=StoryText align=justify>TEAM: GIRLS - Natasha Ruddock (100mH), Sherene Pinnock (400mH, 4x400m), Bobby-Gaye Wilkins (400m, 4x400m), Schillonie Calvert (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Kettiany Clarke (100mH), Naffene Bri
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