We are thankful, says MVP’s Paul Francis

HEAD COACH of the MVP Track Club, Paul Francis, says he is hopeful that athletes at the club will continue their high level of performance this season after 2023 national 100 metres champion Rohan Watson and Tia Clayton won the men’s and women’s 60m events, respectively at the JAAA/PUMA/ Fuller/Anderson Development meet at G.C. Foster College last Saturday.

“Sports is cyclic. Yes, we have remained consistent over the past 16 years with some high-level performances, but we are mindful that there are hundreds of other training groups, including six or seven in Jamaica, which have the same ambition like us,” Francis said.

Francis, who is also a part-time coach at the University of Technology, says his club is working hard to get his group of athletes ready to face a season which includes the World Indoor Championships, March 1-3 in Scotland and the 2024 Olympic Games, August 2-11 in Paris, France.

“For us, all seasons are important per usual, and we systematically work to get each person the best they can be. Wherever our athletes are selected to go, they will compete at the best of their abilities and, at the end of the day, the focus is the same. We have seen more positives than negatives and we are thankful,” he said.

Responding to a question on the integration of young athletes in the club, Francis said: “We have a very great team of technical persons led by coach Stephen Francis, and we understand what we have to do to make things work. At the same time, each person should or need to understand that they are the only person in their lane, so they just need to do what they have to do to get to their particular goals at the end of season.”

For each athlete, Francis said, they try to fix areas which need to be strengthened and then hope for the best as the season goes along. He expressed some satisfaction with Watson’s run on Saturday. “He (Watson) didn’t look too bad today (Saturday), so let us see what will happen as the season goes along,” he shared.

The Clayton twins ( Tia and Tina) showed remarkable improvement at the start of their race compared to former years but Paul Francis said they have done nothing special for the athletes in this area.

“We did nothing special here. What happens is not uncommon. Youngsters coming to the club usually show great improvement in their second and third years. They are hungry for success and we just have to work with them,” he said.

Watson captured the men’s 60m in 6.67 seconds, ahead of teammate Nishion Ebanks, 6.68. Among the women, headliner Shericka Jackson was not feeling well but MVP athletes took the first three places. Tia Clayton won in 7.22 ahead of sister Tina (7.27) and Sada Williams 7.30.