Team Jamaica expects at least 12 medals
Two members of the World Under-20 track and field team’s coaching staff believe that the team could register a record medal haul at the Championships next week in Tampere, Finland.
Michael Dyke, who will be overseeing the sprinters on the team, told STAR Sports on Thursday that if everything goes well, the team should grab 12 medals.
“We have good strength, especially among the boys, but overall if everything goes according to plan, I think we could get over 12 medals,” Dyke said. “We expect great things from Christopher Taylor and Damion Thomas but we are not going to put any undue pressure on them.”
He continued: “On the female side we are expecting Briana Williams to do well and others too, but as I said before we are not putting any pressure on the athletes.”
Neil Harrison, who will be in charge of the quarter-mile group, also has high expectations.
“I know the expectation is great and once they come with their full game, we are expecting them to do tremendously well,” Harrison said.
Taylor and Thomas stormed to national junior records and world leading times in their respective events, the 400m and the 110 hurdles, at the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championships last week. Thomas, who also equalled the World Under-20 record in the process, said he will be going after the record in the preliminary round.
“I may even try to break it in the prelims or the semis, but I am definitely going for the record,” Thomas said before departing for Finland yesterday.
Taylor, who registered 44.88 seconds at the senior championships, is set to lead the 4x400m team to a gold medal.
And with three of the fastest quarter-milers in the world this year, the team could also challenge the world record at 3:00.33.
“We are expecting them to tremendously well. It is a great quartet and as long as they perform to the best of their ability we are expecting a medal,” Harrison said.
Williams 11.13 seconds placed her fourth in the world this year, but she believes that with good execution she could be among the medals. “I know I can do well and I want to do well, and hopefully I can come back with some gold medals,” Williams said.
Jamaica’s best showing at the Championships came way back in 2000 when they captured 3 gold medals, 4 silver and 1 bronze for a total of 8 medals.
The championship is scheduled to begin next week Tuesday.