West coast camp

Jamaica Athletics Admin­istrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gayle says that they are looking to finalise plans to hold a mini-camp in the United States (US) for members of the national track and field team ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

The traditional pre-Olympic camp which was scheduled to be held in the Japanese prefecture of Tottori was cancelled last month because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With less than three weeks before the start of the Games, Gayle said that they are in discussion with the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) to get the necessary support for the venture.

“[A request has been sent] and in short order, I believe that those who are not yet in a camp scenario, or already under their personal coaches will now be able to put a mini-camp in place,” Gayle told The Gleaner.

Gayle said last month that having a local-based camp for the athletes was an option, given recent occurrences. However, he says now that their ideal location would be the US west coast, where there are the most accessible routes to Tokyo, Japan.

“We are looking within the US, close to the exit point out of Los Angeles, because that is one of the best routes to get into Japan,” he said. “That’s one of the major entry and exit points from the US to Japan, and vice versa.”

Track and field agent Cubie Seegobin confirmed that those plans are being made, with his client SprinTec Track Club being the main beneficiaries, as well as former 100m world champion Yohan Blake. Seegobin said that they proposed the idea to the JAAA to coincide with them being able to participate in a meet to be held in Orange Country on July 18. The association supported the idea.

“We discussed it with the JAAA and they were all for it so they are trying to make the arrangements as far as finances,” Seegobin said. “They are really trying to work with the JOA but they hold the purse strings, so there is a discussion.

“They (the athletes) couldn’t go on to Japan [immediately after] because they are only allowed to come in on the 23rd.

“We thought about doing it because we would have to stay here or stay someplace else.”

Seegobin said that while the arrangements are planned for qualified SprinTec athletes, and Blake, other clubs are welcome to join, but would have to liaison with the JAAA.

“If anybody else wants to jump in, then they need to discuss it with the JAAA but we have spoken to them about this group,” he said. “I know as Yohan’s manager that he will be at the meet and he will be staying over.”

National coach Maurice Wilson says that the pre-Olympic camp has been responsible for earning medals that were not guaranteed.

“The camp has assisted in us getting at least four or so medals that you would never say were clear-cut medals,” he said. “Even though for me, the camp, most times, it is too long and it is very fatiguing, a cap is extremely necessary.”

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com