Wilson expects double-digit haul at World Champs

Team Jamaica’s Technical Leader Maurice Wilson says that he is optimistic about a double-digit medal haul at the 2022 World Athletics Championships despite the lingering effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on athlete training and the competitive cycle.

Wilson will lead a more than 60-person team to Eugene, Oregon, for the Championships, which start next week Friday, hoping to finish with at least 10 medals for the third time in the last four championships.

Although concerned about the health of some of the athletes in the field events, Wilson is pleased with the overall strength of the squad. While another double-digit finish is a reasonable goal this year, he says that the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could still have an effect.

“It is a fair target, but I don’t think people would have recognised how the pandemic has affected the training cycle of the athletes, whether because of COVID or the training (regiment) in which they would have been off for some time,” Wilson told The Gleaner. “Even though spectators are not necessarily in agreement, as coaches and management team we have to be patient with our athletes and respect that performances are a result of a process, and the process involves a lot of factors. Any double-digit (finish) would be good for the country, and those are my expectations.”

SUCCESS

The athletes are expected to arrive in Eugene on Sunday, with training to be done in the days leading to the July 15 start. Wilson said that while he would have wanted a longer prep time for athletes who require a national camp setting, they will adjust accordingly. Wilson’s priority is about ensuring that the proper climate is created for success.

“It is all about the environment that will make the athletes compete at their best. For me, a camp is not mandatory,” Wilson said. He added that he wanted the coaches to prepare their athletes in the environment that suits them best, and when they (athletes) are a part of the relay squad, they give them some amount of opportunity to be able to practise.

Jamaica finished with 12 medals in two of the last three World Championships (2015, 2019), with their last one seeing them get four medals from field events, a first in the country’s history. Although his concerns include how the relay events will be managed, Wilson said that teamwork and cooperation from athletes and coaches will be necessary to maximise their opportunities in the event.

“There are a couple of areas that we would have wanted to be stronger in and we would have to compensate in the relays. And for that reason we are expecting the cooperation of the athletes and the coaches to make sure that Jamaica is successful in these relays. On a whole, I think that the team will perform, as usual, very well,” Wilson said. “And I know for sure that the athletes, as per usual, will give of their best for their country.”

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com