Dear Editor,
While many fans have been basking in the success of our nation's track & field performances at the world level, it has been mainly our short sprinters who have been in the spotlight. In addition, a few athletes in technical events such as the hurdles have shone brightly on some occasions.
Our male quarter-milers have not been sharing the same success as their performance levels have fallen. In earlier days, one can remember that among the men, it was the quarter-milers and 4 x 400m relay quartets who brought home the medals from the major meets. Those in the shorter sprints struggled against the 'big guns' from other nations.
The best outcome usually was one representative making the final on each occasion. For example, Raymond Stewart at each of the world championships and Olympics he competed in and Michael Green at the Atlanta Olympics. So what has happened? The answer is we are lacking in talents. It appears that back in those days we had the talent over the one-lap distance while we lacked in the shorter sprints. Obviously, the reverse is true now.
We must remember the likes of Gregory Haughton, Michael McDonald, Davian Clarke, Danny McFarlane and Roxbert Martin competing in the same era. Before them we had Bert Cameron and immortals such as Herb McKinley, Arthur Wint and George Rhoden. They were all tremendous talents.
But it seems there is hope for the future, evidenced by the likes of outstanding schoolboys, Javon Francis, Devaughn Baker and just recently, Martin Manley, who have all been performing way ahead of their local peers. Francis, the oldest of the trio, has been very convincing especially after his outstanding performance among the senior men at the national championships.
Once they are in the right hands, all is set to go well in the future.
Loystan Clarke
clarke_mis@yahoo.com
Lacking talents
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While many fans have been basking in the success of our nation's track & field performances at the world level, it has been mainly our short sprinters who have been in the spotlight. In addition, a few athletes in technical events such as the hurdles have shone brightly on some occasions.
Our male quarter-milers have not been sharing the same success as their performance levels have fallen. In earlier days, one can remember that among the men, it was the quarter-milers and 4 x 400m relay quartets who brought home the medals from the major meets. Those in the shorter sprints struggled against the 'big guns' from other nations.
The best outcome usually was one representative making the final on each occasion. For example, Raymond Stewart at each of the world championships and Olympics he competed in and Michael Green at the Atlanta Olympics. So what has happened? The answer is we are lacking in talents. It appears that back in those days we had the talent over the one-lap distance while we lacked in the shorter sprints. Obviously, the reverse is true now.
We must remember the likes of Gregory Haughton, Michael McDonald, Davian Clarke, Danny McFarlane and Roxbert Martin competing in the same era. Before them we had Bert Cameron and immortals such as Herb McKinley, Arthur Wint and George Rhoden. They were all tremendous talents.
But it seems there is hope for the future, evidenced by the likes of outstanding schoolboys, Javon Francis, Devaughn Baker and just recently, Martin Manley, who have all been performing way ahead of their local peers. Francis, the oldest of the trio, has been very convincing especially after his outstanding performance among the senior men at the national championships.
Once they are in the right hands, all is set to go well in the future.
Loystan Clarke
clarke_mis@yahoo.com
Lacking talents
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