Dyke wants twins to focus on U20 Worlds

Michael Dyke, high school coach of the Clayton twins, Tina and Tia, has declined to comment on the move by the sisters to forego their final year of eligibility in Class One to become professional athletes under the guidance of MVP head coach Stephen Francis.

When The Gleaner caught up with Dyke at an Under-20 team training camp at Jamaica College on Thursday, the Edwin Allen High School head coach said the main focus now is the ongoing preparations for the August 2-7 World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.

“At this moment I cannot comment on that as the focus for the young ladies is their preparation for the World Under 20 Championships, and as far as I am concerned I am still their coach,” said Dyke.

Under the guidance of Dyke at Edwin Allen High, the Clayton twins have become two of the most outstanding teenage sprinters in the world. Tina is the World Under 20 defending 100 metres champion, while Tia was a member of the record-breaking Under 20 4x100m relay team in Nairobi, Kenya last year. The quartet, which also included Serena Cole and Kerrica Hill, clocked 42.94 seconds.

It is understood that both twins, especially Tina, after her impressive National Junior record of 10.96 in winning the Under-20 100 metres at the National Championships, were being sought by agents from three top shoe companies.

It is understood that both athletes, their mother Tishawna Pinnock and Dyke met with representatives from Nike in Western Jamaica last Friday and signed a lucrative deal.

In addition to being coached by Francis, the athletes will be attending classes at the University of Technology. Francis is one of the world’s best sprint coaches. The two women who have won the last four Olympic 100 metres titles were both coached by Francis.