Jamaican vibe strong despite initial medal shortcomings, bad lane draws

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

DAEGU, South Korea:Team leader Grace Jackson believes that the notion among some local track and field fans that Jamaica's team here at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics has been underperforming is an unfair one, and went on to point out that the vibe in the camp is positive.

At the end of the first session yesterday, and with three sessions left to be contested by the Jamaicans, the country's medal tally stood at three.

By the end of the day, though, the tally reached five, with the addition of a gold medal in the women's 200m final and bronze in the men's 4x400m.

Two years ago in Berlin, Gemany, Jamaica registered its highest medal tally at the IAAF World Champion-ships with 13 podium finishes (seven gold, four silver, two bronze), and although some of the events that were already completed at this point in Berlin are yet to be settled in Daegu, the country had already secured nine medals in Berlin and also had more finalists.

However, Jackson had actually expected the medal count to pick up later in the day, as well as in the closing days, with some of the country's stronger events, such as the 200m and relays to come.

positive spirits

"The vibe in the camp is good and everyone is in positive spirits," Jackson said. "We recognise where we are and what this means to the people of Jamaica, and everyone is confident that the second half of the championships will belong to us."

Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Stewart contested the women's 200m final later in the night, where Campbell-Brown won the gold medal.

Following that, in the last running event of the day, the Jamaican men's 4x400m relay quartet took bronze.

Jackson echoed the concerns of women's 400m silver medallist Melaine Walker, who was upset that she was assigned lane eight for the final despite finishing second in her semi-final.

"We have received a lot of lane eights and so we have asked the athletes to try and win their heats and semi-finals, if they can, without too much trouble," Jackson noted.

"We hold our team meetings where we use the opportunity to speak on one or two issues, but we are a family here, the vibe in the camp is a good one and everyone is in high spirits," Jackson added.

The Olympian admitted that there was, however, a need to offer greater support to the athletes who are still engaged in competition.

"There is a need for greater support and we have all rallied behind the team. Those who have completed their participation at the championships will be available to offer their support for their teammates as well," said Jackson.