The University of Technology (UTech)/MVP Track Club training group has lost another promising young athlete, as sprinter Jacques Harvey has not registered for the semester and is believed to have joined the programme of Florida-based coach Lance Braumann.

The 23-year-old will join up with fellow Jamaicans Ramone McKenzie and Nickel Ashmeade, along with American superstar Tyson Gay at their base in Clermont.

Harvey, who won gold in the 100m with a time of 10.14 at last year's World University Games in Shenzhen, China, and who also took the college 100m at the Penn Relays earlier this year, is believed to be one of the island's most gifted young sprinters.

He is expected to feature with Kemar Bailey-Cole, Jason Young, Sheldon Mitchell, Dexter Lee and McKenzie as Jamaica's next batch of sprinting stars.

Harvey's current 100m personal best is 10.08 seconds, which he ran during the semi-final at the National Senior Championships in June this year. He finished eighth in the final.

When contacted, UTech's head coach Paul Francis, who is also a main member of the MVP Track Club's technical team, which is marshalled by his brother Stephen, confirmed that the youngster has not reported to school and is no longer part of the MVP training group.

However, Paul Francis could not confirm if Harvey had in fact joined up with the Brauman camp, as up to Monday morning he had not had a chance to speak with the sprinter.

"I know he is no longer here, but I don't know where he is," Francis told The Gleaner. "I haven't seen him register for school, so I assume he is no longer with UTech, but I know he is no longer with the MVP training group, I know that much."

Francis says he is not disappointed by the youngster's apparent decision, and hopes that he is able to continue his development under his next coach.

"This is the nature of track and field and people have different perspectives on how they will develop, and all we can do is wish them the best and hope they fulfil their potential," Francis added.

"No, I am not disappointed, adults make their own choices for their own reasons and we just have to work with the choices they make.

"Brauman's programme is a very good one that has developed the talents of Tyson Gay, Steve Mullings, Nickel Ashmeade and all these people. The layman will think it's a negative move, but it's something positive for Mr Harvey if that's what he has done," Francis added.

andre.lowe@gleanerjm.com