Jamaica's athletics: built on all the right elements

Dennis Morrison, Contributor

Jamaica's recent dominance in sprinting at all levels of international competition has sparked speculation worldwide as to anthropological factors that could explain this success. Usain Bolt's record-shattering 9.58-second run in the 100 metres at the 2009 Berlin World Championships has become the archetypal reference.

First, his sprinting prowess was put down to the supposed magical properties of yams, which was generally regarded as folklore.

But a few days ago, Professor Errol Morrison of the University of Technology (UTech) cited biochemical research as providing scientific evidence that steroids in yam and bananas act as important stimuli, and thus the Jamaican diet is an advantage to our runners. To be fair, Professor Morrison acknowledged the role of anatomy, passion, discipline, hard work, and talent as contributing factors, while dismissing the idea of a speed gene.

And anatomical factors such as the 'cock bottom' of the black race that he mentioned as an advantage in sprinting would seem to have some basis given the record of African-American, Afro-Cuban and Europeans of African descent. We should be careful, however, not to downplay the critical organisational planks on which our athletics has been developed since the early 20th century.

Athletics a tradition

Over these years, Jamaicans have developed a tradition of organised competition, starting at early age groups, along with early identification of talent. From primary and preparatory school through to senior levels, potential athletes are given national exposure. Our high-school championships, which started as Boys (more than 100 years ago) and Girls' Champs, are best in class internationally and are now studied by experts as a model of success.

Coaching and mentorship are other essential ingredients of the Jamaican success story, and those have been rooted in the tradition of voluntarism which is characteristic of athletics. Commitment to the athletes and consistency made up for lack of financial resources in the former days when athletics was an amateur sport. While current administrators continue in this tradition, we should not forget 'Foggy' Burrowes and those of his era.

The contributions of former athletes are recognised within the fraternity but may not be understood by the wider society. Herb McKenley, for example, secured scholarships to US universities for numerous athletes, as did many others. Though not always on the best terms with the JAAA, former athletes have been part of the network of support, especially for high-school athletes.

Local athletics took a big leap with the establishment of G.C. Foster College 30 years ago, providing technical training for our coaches in athletics, as well as in football and other sports. Having depended for decades on the US college system to prepare our senior athletes and expose them to world-class competition, local coaches were involved only up to the high-school level. Our most talented athletes could only reach world standards by going abroad.

With G.C. Foster in place, and then UTech's adoption of athletics as an integral subject for academic and applied treatment, the transition to locally based training for our athletes became possible. Dennis Johnson, himself a former 100-metre world-record holder and pioneer at UTech, and now Stephen Francis and Glen Mills were crucial to building the world-class reputation we now enjoy.

Culture of success

Jamaica's athletics has also been energised and sustained by the culture of success that has been built around powerful role models. From the popular McKenley, Arthur Wint and their teammates, who burst on to the world stage at the 1948 London Games, to their world-record feat at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, to Donald Quarrie, Merlene Ottey and our latter-day stars, Jamaica has turned out world-beaters. Their success at the top rung of world sprinting has been a source of national pride and has inspired confidence in upcoming athletes that they, too, can achieve.

Our infrastructure base, though not on par with our First-World counterparts, has expanded, providing access to facilities for competition. The early establishment of a National Stadium that could host world-class meets was a signal step, although it triggered great controversy. A disappointing note is that we have not been able to secure a slot on the calendar of international meets despite an impressive debut in the late 1970s with the Norman Manley Games and the current Jamaica International Invitational meet.

It is important to understand that Jamaica's success in sprint athletics is the product of talent, shaped, in part, by physiology, which has been developed and honed by a combination of factors. African-Americans have had their own success based on similar factors. If yams and bananas give our athletes an advantage, then all the better.

Dennis Morrison is an economist. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.