Future is bright in sprinting, says Watts

Rodney Hinds, Gleaner Writer

THE JAMAICA athletics team manager, Ludlow Watts, has sounded a stark message to the rest of the track and field world.

After seeing his nation take an unprecedented gold, silver and bronze medal in the 200m at the Olympic Stadium at London 2012, Watts has suggested that the best is yet to come from the island with less than three million people.

The fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, added a 200m gold to his individual 100m, and was followed home in the longer sprint by Yohan Blake, while the bronze went to young Warren Weir who doesn't look old enough to shave. But the boy can certainly run and did so in a time of 19.84 which is his personal best mark.

Watts, talking exclusively to the Voice of Sport just minutes after the all-Jamaican 200m victory ceremony, said: "The 200m was remarkable.

"It is the best present that the country has ever received (August 6 was Jamaica's 50th anniversary of Independence) and we won it in style for the whole world to see.

"The future is very bright for us in sprinting. Warren Weir is very young, but believe you me, you are going to hear a lot more about him.

"I would like to tell Jamaicans in the UK, that in 1948 we started on this journey with Arthur Wint (Jamaica's first Olympic gold medallist, winning the 400m) in London and we did well and we are just continuing that journey.