Ambassador Johnson Hails Local Athletes’ London Performance

Jamaican High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Anthony Johnson has said that the performances of Jamaican athletes at this weekend’s Aviva Grand Prix in London, augurs well for the future of the island’s athletics.
He hailed the stunning victory by Kaliese Spencer in the Women’s 400 metres hurdles and the second place efforts of Yohan Blake, Dwight Thomas and Germaine Gonzales in the 100 metres, 110 metres hurdles and 400 metres respectively.
Mr Johnson said the athletes displayed a sample of what Jamaica had to offer at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, in October, the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea next year, and the Olympic Games in London, 2012.
The High Commissioner watched the games at the Crystal Palace Stadium in South London with President of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association, Mr Howard Aris, and other members of his delegation.
He noted that while the meet was dominated by American athletes, Jamaica had no need to worry as injuries are part and parcel of the athletics scene. “The fact that several of our athletes have been injured over the last two years is nothing new to athletics. It’s not possible to operate at the highest level and not have injuries. It is the nature of the human body. It is important for the athlete to have the mental strength to return to top form,” he said.
Mr Johnson who is an athletics historian said the current scenario makes for a very exciting finish to the Diamond League season.
“When you have a Yohan Blake (9.89) running such a good second to Tyson Gay (9.78) it shows that Jamaica has performers who are capable of stepping up to the first rank even in the absence of the established stars like Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell. Blake is a former world junior champion and not many of them make the transition to the senior ranks. His performance was very satisfying and I am sure we are yet to see the best of him,” he noted.
Other local athletes who put in good performances at the two-day meet were Ricardo Chambers, who ran third in the 400 metres, and Sherone Simpson, who was third in her 200 metres event.