The just concluded Jamaica National Junior and Senior Trials ended in a rather disappointing and anticlimactic manner. After stellar performances by Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in both the women’s 100m and 200m finals, there was much anticipation and excitement generated for the women’s 100m Hurdles final. Indeed, that final would have seen the classic match-up between the 2015 World Championship, Danielle “Ants” Williams, and the in-form world leader and new National Record Holder, Janeek Brown. However, this is was not to be.
False start drama
Last Sunday, June 23, 2019, the Women’s 100m Hurdles was the scheduled penultimate event, that brought the island’s best, head to head. However, in that ill-fated final, Danielle Williams was judged to have false started, was red-carded and ejected from the field, after a lengthy and futile protest. Clearly, Danielle felt that she did not false start, and spectators resolutely defended her, because, in their eyes, Williams was thrown off by continuous explosions that could be heard in the Grand Stand area, right across from the starting position of athletes and the starter.
And even after the race was allowed to proceed without Williams, there was another recall, and a mishap that eventually forced the abandonment of that event. But whatever are the reasons given by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (“JAAA”), to eject Danielle Williams, and to exclude her from participating in the World Championship, one thing is certain, and that is, Jamaica’s medal prospects have just been dealt a telling blow.
Questions
The questions we must now ask ourselves, are these: Whom are the National Trials for, the athletes or the officials? What is to be gained by excluding the former World Champion from the team that will be going to Qatar? What purpose does this serve? Who really benefits from Williams exclusion? Surely, not Jamaica!
Athletes vs. officials
Janeek Brown and Danielle Williams would have brought down the ‘house’ last Sunday, and would have caused possibly, the further lowering of the 110m hurdles national record of 12.40 seconds set by Brown at the 2019 NCAA’s. Without a doubt, both would have made a formidable pair in the women’s 100m hurdles. But because of the arrogance, inflexibility and lack of empathy and discretion for the athletes, by the officials, not only has Williams been denied an opportunity to perform, and to self-actualize, but Jamaica has been robbed of a distinct opportunity to maximize on its medal count in the women’s 100m Hurdles, and in its overall medal tally.
The JAAA hasty decision
The JAAA has put itself between a rock and a hard place, moving too hastily to enforcing its draconian and senseless rules which have the potential to do more harm, than good. Now, why wasn’t due care and consideration given the protesting athlete, given what was happening in the Grand Stand, and given that she is among Jamaica’s top two sprint hurdlers, and among the best in the world? Why wasn’t the integrity of the National Trials preserved as an utmost priority, and to avoid such distasteful precedence of ejecting an elite athlete; an action that we all might live to regret?
The JAAA seems to have vacuous and ineffective leadership and has blundered in a huge way. But even at this late stage, I do hope, that, common sense will be sought, and be applied, and not the use of impersonal and emotionless technology. Either way, it is an “antsy” situation for the athlete, the federation, and for Jamaica. Ultimately, may sanity return to the space of reasoning. And may Jamaica benefits from the sending of its strongest team to Doha, Qatar, in late September.
Jamaica should be in it, to win it and not to risk it!
Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah), Sports Writer.
Sensenya is avid track and field fan who has been covering the sports over the last 30 years. His passion for the sports was fuel when he became a student at Kingston College. Sensenya covers other sports such as football and cricket. He is a Computer Systems Analyst and a trained Pension Adviser. Sensenya is a staple at the major track and field meets in Jamaica.
Edited by Raymend Byfield
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