London Welcomes Jamaica’s Para Athletes

Team Jamaica has settled in comfortably to a warm welcome at the Premier Inn, London, Stratford just a stone’s throw from the historic Queen Elizabeth Park Stadium where Jamaica has made its mark and established world milestones in track and field both in the Paralympic and Olympic Games.

Newcomer, Chadwick Campbell, faced the starter this morning in the male T13 100m preliminaries and placed sixth in 11.49 and did not progress as the heat was won by the Irish athlete Jason Smyth in 10.73 who advanced to the finals with the fastest time. Campbell was disappointed as he was looking to better his personal record of 11.34 which would have given him a berth in the finals. “I am somewhat dejected although this is my first outing on the international stage as I was hoping to be in the final”.

Campbell’s teammate, and also a rookie, Santana Campbell, bettered her expectation in her weaker event, the female F55 shot putt, placing sixth (5.99m) in the world final which was won by Latvia’s Diana Dadzite with a throw of 8.01m.

The campaign of para athlete, Dana Gaye-Weller, ended disappointingly in an eighth place finishing in the female F 51 club throw which again puts in the spotlight the issue of classification as weaker athletes are competing with obviously stronger athletes. The event was won by Zoia Ovsll in a championship record throw.

Jamaica’s journey continues tomorrow with Chadwick Campbell in the male T13 200m and Santana Campbell in the female F 55 javelin. In these events, the country is expected to secure medals in the Championship now underway in the gateway metropolitan city of London.

Chef de Mission, Jacqueline Cowan, is marshaling Jamaica’s team: “The team is a mixture of committed experienced athletes and newcomers who are eager to affirm or make their mark on the global stage”.

• By JPA Editor
• In IPC WC - London 2017
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“Operation Big Ben” is now underway as the JPA prepares for the 2017 London World Para Athletics Championships where, it is being planned, our para athletes will have their best showing ever in international competition.

London has treasured memories of the 2012 Paralympic Games with the golden achievements of Alphonso Cunningham and next year summer “Operation Big Ben” will come to a crescendo in July.

New athletes have surged into the programme with great enthusiasm and potential and have been inspired by the achievements of past and current Paralympians. Sport Manager, Neville Sinclair, is optimistic: “We are broadening our base and there is enough talent in the camp for us to be confident. The athletes jsut have to deliver”

The JPA is on a campaign to increase its cadre of para athletes and the number of disciplines or events in which Jamaica will participate in international competitions . This is a principal goal in the Strategic Paln for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

“Operation Big Ben” formally begins the ‎march and the troops are being conditioned physically and psychologically for the assignment. It is ambitious ‎but not beyond the reach of those committed and driven officials and athletes of the JPA who have a fixed gaze on the big clock which they hope will chime gold.

JPA President, Christopher Samuda, is a study of concentration: “I am continually evaluating the landscape to see how best we can grow our successes at championships. Thought after thought is measured and weighed practically for we have to get the formula right and then perfect it”

Training has started and athletes are aware of the qualifying times and distances in their respective events  ‎and the dots they have to connect along the journey to reach London, that famous city of revered Paralympic and Olympic traditions. In less than nine months, the games will begin and so too the hopes, dreams and aspirations of Jamaica’s para athletes.

• By JPA Editor
• In IPC WC - London 2017
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