Team Pressure for Jamaican meet — minus legend Gatlin
DESPITE what appears to be an ugly split between Justin Gatlin and the management of Team Pressure Domx, the much-heralded young runners from the USA will indeed be making the trip to Jamaica to compete at the Anthrick Development meet on Saturday.
The young runners, aged between 11 and 12 years and assembled from across the United States, are Dashaun “Honeybadger” Morris II (Grayson, Georgia), Rudolph “Blaze” Ingram (Tampa, Florida), Kareen “2K” Knox II (Las Vegas, Nevada), Rudyard “Jizzle” West Jr (West Monroe, Louisiana) and Kaden “Big O” Colemanbennett (Washington, DC).
This powerful 4x100 metre relay team, coached then by American legend Justin Gatlin, has the US media in a frenzy and are being touted as the fastest kids around.
Gatlin had been travelling around the USA with the team and announced their intention to participate in the prep school meet in Jamaica.
But in what appeared to be a disagreement between Gatlin and the Domx management, the Olympic and World champion won’t be coaching the team to Jamaica.
Gatlin, in a video message, apologised to meet organiser and CEO of Anthrick Sports Ricky Martin and to the Jamaican fans, saying his team withdrew from the meet.
“It comes to me to tell you that with [a heavy] heart I won’t be able to travel there due to issues in our production,” said Gatlin.
He continued: “We would be able to reschedule with Mr Martin on the next opportunity that we have. We are excited and we are eager to be able to travel — and not only that, be able to compete in one of the best countries track and field have known.”
But hours later, Jiwe Morris, founder, coach and manager of Team Pressure, made it known that Team Pressure will in fact be coming to Jamaica, but without Gatlin.
“We have sorted out our travel arrangements for May 12 to fly into Jamaica to compete in the Anthrick sports management meet, May 14th,” Morris noted.
“However, Justin Gatlin will not be travelling with us, so no worries. Team Pressure is still on the way though,” he explained.
Meanwhile, a relieved Martin said he is going ahead as planned to welcome Team Pressure and the Canadian team, Flying Angels, to match strides with Jamaica’s top prep schools.
Martin, who has been putting on the development meets since 2011, said the event is struggling to attract adequate sponsorship and he is urging corporate Jamaica to come on board.
“Sponsorship is actually hard to come by and so far we want to thank Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange. She has stepped up and assisted us through the SDF and her ministry and we want to say, ‘Thank you very much,’ ” Martin pointed out.
“We have gotten a nice discount from Independence Park, Atlas Security Group, World Class Athletics and TRK Party Rentals. We want to say thanks to all who have come on board,” he continued.
“These are challenging times but we have to push forward to have our meet. This is the only developmental meet going into the Prep Champs which are June 3 and 4. We want the spectators to come out and support these kids. It’s just $500 across the board to come into the grandstand,” Martin added.