Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

TWO OF Jamaica's best medal hopefuls at this summer's World Championships, Novlene Williams and Kenia Sinclair are now without a coach.

Tom Jones, who coached quarter-miler Williams and middle-distance runner Sinclair, both Commonwealth Games bronze medallists, died on Tuesday. He had been battling cancer for the past three years and had been away from the track since January.

The 62-year-old Jones was also the coach of Jamaican sprinter hurdler Andrea Bliss and sprinter Nadine Palmer.

Williams, the world number three ranked quarter miler, said things would not be the same without Jones.

"It's going to be tough (without him)," said Williams, a former Ferncourt High student. "It is not going to be the same ... to find a coach to fill the gap, it's going to be hard," she said.

The positive side

Sinclair believes the death will affect the athletes, but said they had to look to the positive side of things.

"I think it will affect us a lot, but we have to stay positive and dedicate the season to him," said the world's seventh ranked 800m runner.

"Even though I lost my coach, I am still looking to have a good season," she said.

"This is only going to motivate me to do better this season ... he was like a father to us, so when we step on the track, we just have to think what he would have wanted," added Sinclair, who holds the national record with her 1: 58.88.

Williams also wants to dedicate the season to Jones.

"I hope this will help me for a wonderful season," she added while saying, Jones was like a father to her.

"He was a person I could go and talk to if I had a bad day. He was like a father," said Williams, who ran a personal best 49.63 seconds last season.

Williams said for now she would continue to train with Sinclair, Bliss and Palmer and they were not looking for a new coach as yet.

"I have Kenia, Andrea and Nadine training with me, and I think we can do it on our own for now ... coach has already laid the foundation for us," she said.

"This is what coach would have wanted us to do. He has given us so much knowledge," said Williams who, along with Sinclair, Palmer and Bliss, train at the University of Florida.

Sinclair also believes it's not time to search for a new coach as it may affect their training routine.

"I am going to focus more on the season than getting a new coach," the former St. Jago student told The Gleaner.