This team can do well - Wilson

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

There has been much discussion concerning the under-strength athletics team that will be representing Jamaica at the October 3-14 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, but head coach Maurice Wilson is full of confidence in his young team.

Wilson, who led Holmwood Technical to eight consecutive Girls' Championship titles, believes that the chance is ripe for the cadre of Jamaica's less-known athletes to make a name for themselves on the international stage.

"So it's clear that this team is made up of mostly people who have not distinguished themselves at the highest level and they will be getting a chance to do so now," said Wilson. "It's another opportunity to represent their country and do their best."

The coached reasoned that he was never expecting to have the country's biggest stars at his disposal, but is happy with the mix of youth and experience that he will be taking with him to the Indian capital.

"It's a difficult time of the year as most of the top athletes are preparing themselves for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics next year," Wilson noted. "There are some veterans who have made a name for themselves at this level, like Claston Bernard, Trecia Smith and Nikiesha Wilson, so overall we are expecting persons to perform to the best of their abilities and we are expecting the emergence of some new stars."

He also defended the inclusion of pole vaulters Christopher Smith and Jabari Ennis, after criticism circulated from several areas about their presumed poor chances of medalling.

Traditional areas

"These persons must be given a chance at some point and though we are strong in our traditional areas, such as the sprints and so on, this is an opportunity for others to distinguish themselves," Wilson said.

Despite the limitations, the coach is expecting a few surprises and has singled out the likes of current national champions Oshane Bailey (100m) and Sheree Francis (high jump) as two athletes he expects to impress.

"I'm looking at an Oshane Bailey in the sprints and Sheree Francis in the high jump; those two, among others, can do very well. Rasheed Dwyer is another person that I am expecting to do very well," Wilson said.