by Jean Lowrie-Chin - excerpt from Jamaica Observer column - 26 Aug 2013
What a Jamaica we live in! On the international scene, we were the toast
of Moscow, cheerleaders for China, and the ‘warnees’ of WADA, all in a few
breathless days. Back home, there were
public servants being hustled out of their posts, a leadership issue in the
JLP, growing bewilderment at JTA money and leader management and renewed
interest in the medicinal qualities of marijuana.
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| A Triumphant Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce after her runaway anchor leg in the 4x100 at the Moscow Championships |
From Moscow we heard that the Russians showed more
interest in Jamaica than in any other country participating in the IAAF World
Championships.
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| Javon Francis finishes with Silver. Photo by Ricardo Makyn |
We are a fascinating
bunch – how can such a tiny country end up with the same number of Gold medals
as the mighty USA? And just when we
thought Warren Weir was our biggest athletic surprise, completing the 1-2-3 in
the London Olympics, a shy 18-year-old named Javon Francis astounded the
world. Taking Jamaica from 5th
place in the 4x400M relay, Francis flew past his rivals to secure a silver,
clocking 44.05 seconds, faster than Lashawn Merrit, who anchored the victorious
US team, in a time of 44.77 seconds.
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| Stellar quartet: (from left) Jamaica's Kemar Bailey-Cole, Nesta Carter,
Nickel Ashmeade and Usain Bolt celebrate after winning the men's 4x100m
relay |
As for our
triple Gold-medalists ‘Big Man’ Usain Bolt and ‘Pocket Rocket’ Shelly-Ann
Fraser-Pryce – not only are they great athletes, but they are warm and easy
Jamaicans who are the best possible representatives of our brand. Warren Weir went one better with a silver in
the 200, and we appreciated Nickel Ashmeade’s brave run. Kudos to Nesta Carter
for his final reward of an individual medal – the bronze in the 100M event.
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| Shelly-Ann runs for her Gold |
The women’s and men’s 4x100 relays were magnificent.
Many of us were understandably nervous after all baton mishaps by other
countries in the heats, but our Jamaicans kept their heads and executed
well. Carrie Russell, Kerron Stewart,
Schillonie Calvert and the phenomenal Shelly-Ann all alone at the finish, gave
a flawless performance to win in a championship record of 41.29 seconds. Bolt, Nesta Carter, Kemar Bailey-Cole and
Nickel Ashmeade won in a blazing 37.36 seconds.
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