Hawthorne expects good display from small team

GWANGJU, South Korea:

Danny Hawthorne, the head track and field coach of Jamaica's team to the 28th Summer Universiade Games in Gwangju, South Korea, expects some good performances from the 10 athletes who have travelled to the meet.

Track and field action begins tomorrow, and Hawthorne, who is also the head coach at St Jago High and a senior lecturer at G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sports, is looking forward to great performances from the small contingent.

"We have suffered two major setbacks, one before we left Jamaica and one since arriving, as sprint hurdler Megan Simmonds and intermediate hurdler André Clarke are both out of the meet but expect good performances from those who are here," Hawthorne said.

Hawthorne added that he was surprised that there were top athletes who are eligible for the meet but opted not to attend the Games.

"I am a bit surprised that some of our top collegiate athletes did not take the opportunity to compete here, as this would have been a good dress rehearsal for them ahead of Beijing, as there are high-quality athletes here," he said. "The climate here is similar to that in Beijing, and this would have put them in good stead going to the World Championships," said Hawthorne.

Some 13,000 athletes from about 150 countries are competing for 272 gold medals in 21 sport disciplines at the Games.