Woolery wants more assistance for juniors

Head coach for Jamaica's Carifta Games team, Machell Woolery says Corporate Jamaica needs to step up its assistance for young athletes in order for them to make a better transition onto the global stage.

Jamaica continued their dominance of the FLOW Carifta Games over the Easter weekend they amassed 82 medals - 44 gold, 27 silver and 11 bronze.

Woolery, who served as head coach for the first time, insisted that the athletes from a poor background need help in especially nutrition in their quest for greatness.

"Jamaica's athletics is alive and well. We know the transition process will take a while but we have athletes out there striving for that greatness and with a little more support from Corporate Jamaica they can move onto to a higher level," Woolery told The Gleaner after the team's arrival from Nassau, Bahamas, on Tuesday.

"Nutrition and medical support needs to be stepped up for these kids. If that is in place there would be a smooth transition for some of them," the Petersfield High head coach added

A BIT DISAPPOINTED

Looking back, Woolery was a bit disappointed that his team did not overhaul the record 89 medals won by Jamaica in the past.

"The 82 medals are below my expectation. We wanted to break the record in winning more than the 89 medals that Jamaica won at a previous Carifta Games," he pointed out.

"It is a good team. They were outstanding and there are some top individuals that were not named in the team because of injuries, for example, Kevona Davis of Edwin Allen High," Woolery said.

He described the Carifta Games as "a part of the development of our athletes".

"Once we continue to conquer the region in track and field, we can take it one step further to conquer the world. Other nations at Carifta are developing their respective programmes, so it is always a good platform for the athletes," the head coach said.