Laurie Foster | We must support Briana

Jamaica's 16-year-old female sprinting sensation Briana Williams has added another string to her bow of achievements in a way which has come as no surprise.

Last week, it was announced that the IAAF had nominated the USA-born Tampere, Finland, standout as one of the contenders for the Female Rising Star Award.

Qualification for such a prestigious honour at her level was on the back of the double gold sprint strike in the Scandinavian city at the July-held XVII IAAF World Under-20 Championships of Athletics.

In 2012, another athlete from this region, The Bahamas' Anthonique Strachan, went the whole distance to take the trophy after similar results at the Under-20s in Barcelona, Spain, that year.

TERTIARY STUDIEs

AT UWI

Even before the recent achievement by Briana, there had been considerable tributes coming her way, not the least of which is an offer from The University of the West Indies (UWI) to do tertiary studies at that institution. The handlers of Briana should move with precision.

Foster's Fairplay listened to an interview with Strachan, which was posted a week ago on the Facebook page of the popular track and field exclusive website, trackalerts.com. In it, the Auburn University graduate expressed a high degree of discomfort, which she experienced after accepting the award. It had made life after a difficult task as the pressure it brought on her was unmanageable.

The interview is recommended for study. It is a matter of record that the transition to the senior ranks was not as smooth as had been hoped. Things like a dramatic improvement in times just do not seem to be taking place.

This is not to say that if the award does materialise for the Jamaican, it should not be accepted, as that should not prove to be a solution to the problem that Strachan faced. It is good that she was forthright enough to brave the criticisms and let the truth be told.

It is now left for Williams' camp to use the Bahamian's episode as a guide to the way forward. Williams has voiced a very ambitious plan. In her own interview featured on a recent and often-repeated television show, she expressed the desire to participate in at least three Olympic Games, starting with 2020, and hoped for gold in them all as well as at the intervening World Champs.

SUPPORT SYSTEM

These will not come easy, but it augurs well for the supreme confidence and strength of commitment which should be an ingredient of her plans. She should not be left without adequate support to strategise her journey to the very top. To this end, the actions taken by her people should be of inestimable value in charting the way forward.

As has been frequently echoed in track and field circles, Briana Williams is another gem. She should be afforded the attention that this description deserves. At no time should she be allowed to believe that she is bereft of any of the possible support that a young athlete of her calibre needs.

There have been times in the past when US-born athletes with Jamaican connections were wooed and coerced to make it Jamaica. No such pressure, as far as is known, was brought to bear in Briana's case. The decision to don the black, gold and green seemed to be a well-kept secret. It happened before the country was even alert to the quality she possessed.

Let us then support her in this situation and any other that arises. Sport is replete with ups and downs. To achieve in the manner in which this young lady is planning could take resources somewhat superior to what can now be fathomed.

Whatever it is, it all should redound to the shining of another sporting light. That is the confidence the country should be having in their young champion. Others have been failed in the past. Let it not happen this time around.

Feedback: Email: lauriefoster2012@gmail.com