HOW COULD SUCH A THING HAPPEN JAAA?

Prior to the lead up to the elections last November to select a new administration for the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA), the respective candidates campaigned on the platform the country’s achievements on the track have far outpaced the way the sport was being governed. Change, the candidates said, was essential if Jamaica was to going to continue to sustain its incredible accomplishments on the track.

What happened to Hansle Parchment on Saturday night just prior to him competing in the men’s 110-metre hurdles would suggest that either the candidates were just paying lip service to those pronouncements or they clearly lack an understanding of what it will take for administrators to catch up with the athletes. It also suggests that whatever they need to do to get up to speed better happen soon or the sport is going to suffer.

Parchment, the Olympic bronze medalist and this year’s world leader in the sprint hurdles, was coming into these trials looking like one of the men to beat at the World Championships in Moscow. He was demonstrating the kind of pedigree that many people believe he possesses; the potential to be perhaps the fastest sprint hurdler of all time. The 13.05 he ran just a couple weeks ago was something he planned to build on, and based on information I received in the days leading up to these national championships, he may have gone even faster on Saturday night, breaking that 13-second threshold thus joining an elite list of men who have accomplished the feat. He could have joined his contemporaries Aries Merritt, the world record holder; Jason Richardson, Liu Xiang, Dayron Robles, and David Oliver and some of the past greats like Renaldo Nehemiah, Allen Johnson, Mark Crear, Colin Jackson, Dominique Arnold, Terrence Trammell, Jack Pierce and Ladjii Doucoure.

Now, that prospect seems uncertain because on the night of Saturday, June 22, Parchment, and the other talented sprinter hurdlers like Andrew Riley and Dwight Thomas, were forced to warm up in darkness. Why? We are waiting to hear from the JAAAs. In the meantime, Riley, the former Calabar and University of Illinois standout, who is also poised to become one of the best in the world have laid the blame squarely at their feet.

“(I’m) a bit disappointed that Hansle was not in the final, but you have to put that blame on the organisers,” Riley told track and field website Track Alerts.com. “At the warm-up track, there was no blocks and lights. Jamaica needs to take care of their athletes.”

The website also spoke with Thomas. “I know they don’t intentionally do that to hurt the athletes,” said Thomas, while saying he hopes they won’t have a repeat of the situation.

According to the website Parchment’s coach Fitzroy Coleman told Reuters “He (Parchment) was warming up and twisted his left ankle on one hurdle, which was lying around. The lighting could have been better at the warm-up track.”

The consensus was that the lighting needed to have been better and the general conditions too. Now, I understand the financial constraints but having the athletes warm up almost blind is absolutely absurd. If the organizers had given it some thought, seeing that the hurdlers warm up with obstacles that makes the warm up potentially dangerous, if there were concerns about paying for the lighting, why not run the event earlier in the afternoon when they could have warmed up in natural night. All they would have had to do is reschedule the 200-metre and 400-mete heats to accommodate the shift in the schedule.

As it is right now, Parchment awaits the results of an x-ray that was done on the night which will help determine the extent of the damage. We can only hope that it is not as bad as it could have been and that Parchment will be able to resume training soon. Otherwise, this apparent bungling on the part of the JAAA could potentially derail the young man’s season and further blight the island’s medal prospects in Moscow this summer.

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20 Responses to “HOW COULD SUCH A THING HAPPEN JAAA?”

Jakan says:

June 23, 2013 at 10:44 pm

That is scandalous,truly scandalous
Barbara Book says:

June 24, 2013 at 5:38 pm

The whole management/running of Jamaica’s National Stadium should be reevaluated. LL, you wrote a piece a while back about conditions at the NS. You should republish that article.

I was at the Senior Trials Friday and Sunday evening sessions.

How can you have just one jumbo screen in a national stadium? If you are sitting in the wrong area, you can barely see anything that is being replayed.

We have a stadium announcer who is not engaging or informative.

In the 1500 meter race (Friday night) 2 of the 3 athletes finished the race with a shoving/pushing match. Not a word/explanation from the stadium announcer about what was happening. Complete silence on his part.

Yet, the shoving/pushing match was shown repeatedly on the screen.

He calls the race by naming the athletes and not the lanes they are running in. Those of us
who are not track and field experts were left clueless.

Surely, Jamaica (and the JAAA) can do a better job than this and make the experience of being in the stadium a bit more exciting and memorable.
Normalee Asheber says:

June 24, 2013 at 9:18 pm

I have always been concerned about conditions at the National Stadium and I am afraid that my concerns have come full circle.The current conditions at the Stadium must change or we are looking at a national travisty.I had hoped that the new administration would have stepped up to the plate and demonstrated their willingness to make the necessary changes that would see Jamaicans
proud to support their atheletes but that has not materialized.The poor lighting at the warm up field, the lack of adequate advertisement for a National meet,and the fact there was only one roll of toilet paper in one stall of the ladies bathromm for at least three days is unacceptable.We must put people in place who are committed to make the difficult changes necessary for a brighter day in Jamaican Atheletics.We could start by tearing down the current National Stadium and building a new and improved vertion.
CHRIS GRANT says:

June 26, 2013 at 12:11 pm

The Jamaican government is under financial pressure. My advise is for all able bodied person to increase their earning power and help support our athletes. They are ambassadors for Jamaica. Have a heart do your part.
michael anderson.aka cheri says:

June 26, 2013 at 7:00 pm

lot of changes will have to be made when it comes to our warmup area.how can one starting block be provided?why was no lights provided at the top of the warmup area.get someone who can do the job.no volinteer,the bathrooms need to be upgraded,not ladies sitting outside with soap and toilet paper.not only jamaican goes to the stadum.big up to all the athletes who made the wc team,bigup vcb.things will work out.nuff medals at wc.dont count us out.4×4 men and women gold all the way
Ducky Anderson says:

June 27, 2013 at 11:11 am

Our athletes need professionals who understand what preparations means. On the other hand the jamaica government on the country at large should ensure that everything that is required to keep these athletes comfortable are met as we are the beneficiaries when they do well at both home and abroad. Come on! Give the athletes the resources.
Michael Anderson,aka cheri says:

June 27, 2013 at 8:19 pm

see where asafa won the 100m in ostrava,does safa want to run for country or money.his coach mr francis say he run a business,now you need money to be coming in.safa brings in a lot,right or wrong?to me asafa is the best pure sprinter around,like poetry in motion.so sad to see this brother in the state he his now,your coach can slow you or peak you,that has being done to safa and a few others.you are not going to be 30 forever safa,you know what is going on,dont look back and say you should have tried something else.with bolt and blake not 100%fit you should be kicking asses in the 100m at home.take care of yourself,tyson did.maybe you keep the injuries as a cop out when you loose.so sad man, i cry for you.tell you what go train with mr mills for one year and see the result.fanno is still one of the best coach in the world,he took you to the wall now you need someone to push you over.big up mr mills.weir look good,ready for 19.30.big up fitz coleman,the quiet general.hope parchie be ready.mcloud from kc,you better run to coleman fast.go to uwi,get your education and train with the best hurdles coach in the world.why werent you at trials?you know why.some coaches are selfish,dont take any bad advice.its your future.finell will be ready soon,just has to get his body ready.coach clarke best of luck.
shhh says:

June 28, 2013 at 12:03 am

How will Jamaica win a 4×4 Gold medal when Jamaica’s men and women 4×4 cannot defeat the USA men and women’s 4×4. I’m not totally convinced Jamaica’s men’s 4×1 will automatically win the Gold medal either. I know you guys have Bolt, Weir and Blake and many others. I think the USA will be tougher this year to defeat in the men’s 4×1. The women won and broke the world record last year in the 4×1, I believe they’re strong enough to win the Gold. I know for certain the USA has better men and women’s 400, 800, 1500, 3000, 5000, 10,000 meter runners than Jamaica; and marathon also.
levyl says:

June 28, 2013 at 7:45 am

Asafa is a professional athlete. He and others like him run for money. He also wants to do well for his country but life and sport are not ideal, my friend. It is what it is. Accept it and move on.
Tony says:

June 28, 2013 at 9:29 am

This is a shame Time is to modern you mean to tell me in 2013 no lights and toliet paper. Dont think other countries are not taken notice. Get with the program I ran for NYIT back in the late 80′s it seems nto much has changed with the people. we are so far behind the times. We as a country should be up in arms about this foolishness. Why would I come back and invest in a country that cant give paper to wipe your ass oh yea and turn the lights on so i can see the S h I T iam going to trip over. Jamaica has gone to the dogs.
Donald says:

June 28, 2013 at 1:08 pm

An interesting piece indeed and yes some changes will need to be made to ensure that there is no repeat of any such happenings.

I however, take issue with one of the comments above by Barbara Book, (of course she did imply that she was not a track expert)specifically as it relates to the Announcing in the stadium. I hope the subsequent lines will help to clarify the role of the announcer.

For the 1500m, athletes are not assigned lanes hence names and competitors’ numbers are given which are relayed by the announcer.

Additionally, announcers cannot go ahead and give information to the public when for example an adjudication is to be made. They will have to be guided by the IAAF rules and the local rules in that regard. Oftentimes decisions are not forthcoming as soon as one would have liked hence nothing can be disseminated to the fans.

I was there inside the stadium and I think the team of announcers did an excellent job. The information which was provided kept me aware of times/standards/marks which needed to be attained by athletes amongst other things.

We have to remember that the role of the announcer is to as best as is possible within certain guidelines engage the audience gathered without breaching said guidelines.
s gordon says:

June 29, 2013 at 6:04 am

Asafa need to change his coachh, but he seems to be too loyal. he needs some bone to advice him correctly.Every year the same crap. Shame!
Lannate says:

June 29, 2013 at 1:24 pm

And to think that they looking to get JA Diamond League status….please. We nowhere ready.
Lannate says:

June 29, 2013 at 1:39 pm

What happen to Melanie Walker. If she was not ready for the 100M sprint hurdles,why not try the flat 400m, atleast try to be on the relay or something. Why waste away time you will be over 30yrs plus soon.
Barbara Book says:

June 30, 2013 at 2:40 pm

My Dear Donald:

The women’s 1500M race on Friday night had only 3 runners. ONE, TWO,THREE….Lane identification was not necessary in a race with only 3 runners. I was listening for commentary on the INCIDENT as the race progresses. THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

In those races where most of the (8)track lanes are occupied, identifying the athlete and his lane number makes for better viewing for those of us inside the stadium.

A stadium with only one jumbo screen!

Strange enough, my friends who watched the races at home on CVM were much more informed about the athletes/events than those of us sitting in the stadium.

Stadium Announcer breaching guidelines? Where did that come from?
donovan manhue says:

July 5, 2013 at 10:59 am

Mr. Levy,

Given the result from yesterday’s Diamond League, I encourage you to please pen an article (on this forum) about why Asafa should be included on the Team to Moscow. Fastest Jamaican this year and it appeared he could have gone faster.
michael anderson.aka,cheri says:

July 5, 2013 at 1:02 pm

So sad to see the treatment issued out to our field athletes.Mr blake,get this thing right.for the cac team you have a manager and an asst.you have a head coach and four asst.plus one doc.and one physo.its only the 5th-7th.you need one manager,one doc.one physio.one coach and an asst.That leaves you with four extre spot for the athletes.Cac is only three days.Diana Levy[hammer]64.30m,kattama Riettie[34.31]javelin should be on this team.Dont need 9 person on the management team.Our second longest triple jumper[female]want to quit as they dump her from the university games team.Zara northover got so many let down she gave up.Girls dont quit,hang in there,go out n prove them wrong.Why pnma could`nt sponsor the univ.team to the championship.361 want to get on board,offering better deals,Puma has done well,but jamaica,usain bolt and Camaroon red gold n green made them what they are today.Mr Blake had hit out about the previous contract but they were returned on a 17-5 vote.the athletes make jamaica the power it is today,not the admin.Stop the free ride,I am a former athlete who knows what goes on,some things best left alone.Just hope Jaaa will use their head,both in team selection n coach selection.Why was`nt Mcloud[110h]at trials?Why Kemory Campbell not at CAC?he is goind to be the greatest distant runner we ever produce.time will tell.he has the heart of a lion JAAA cant bk.his spirit.Everybody want to sprint because they are treated much better.SO SAD.Word of advice to Ramone McKenzie…go back to the 400m before its too late.10.2 cant cut it.you have Jazeel,Julian,Odene,Odail as some young guns coming.go back to your roots,400m.
Lannate says:

July 7, 2013 at 11:11 pm

@ cheri,
You are so right about R.Mackenzie going back to the 400M. I often wonder about him…lost in the system. As for kemory, yep, yep..he should have been overseas getting his feet wet with international exposure.
Donald says:

July 8, 2013 at 9:11 am

Barbara,

I responded based on what you had asserted in your first post pertaining to the lanes. Nonetheless, given that you clarified your position, the incident as I mentioned in my previous post during the 1500m is somewhat difficult to announce for a stadium announcer.

As a matter of fact I remember clearly the announcer saying something to the effect of: “ohhh may be some trouble there” and a flag went up as well. Remember, the stadium announcer is not a radio or tv commentator and as such will not go on and on, on certain events.

For the 1500m incident, if the announcers got nothing from the track judges, whether by way of a result sheet with a DQ or by word of mouth to say that the race is being reviewed, the announcer cannot by his lonesome say to the fans “Big trouble in the women’s 1500m” for argument sake.

It is much easier for radio and tv broadcasters to do this as they have to keep the audience in tune with whatever data they have. Plus, they have the benefit of analysts whose job it is to go over for example said incident to give the viewers/listeners and idea as to a possible decision that would be made.

I guess to have more screens in the stadium requires more funding and for some meets this has been provided (Champs is one such example).

Finally, in my first post when I mentioned breaching rules, I was simply illustrating that announcers are guided by specific rules during meets and these must be adhered to. So for example, when if the announcer started to go on and on on the incident in that 1500m the Meet Director would have asked him to stop and wait official word from the track judges.
Donald says:

July 8, 2013 at 9:19 am

Mr. Anderson,

You raised some good points above and surely the JAAAs must get their act together. However, one point in particular which I want to touch on is Kemoy Campbell.

For the CAC Games athletes are asked if they are available and are included in a provisional list. Now this list may be shortened (oftentimes it is) to based on the objectives of this association, which will at times result in bad press for them as was the case this time around with some of our Nat’l Champs who were left out and no reason given.

Now I am assuming, Kemoy was either contacted or not contacted as to his availability for the Games. If he was contacted and said he was available, I dont think the JAAAs would have left him off.

Also, remember he is a US Collegiate Athlete which means he cannot run on the circuit; so outside of Games such as CACs or Panam, or NCAA meets it is virtually impossible for him to really get tested at his distances by strong competition (normally from North and East Africa).

However, your points on our 10.2s sprinters is spot on. The sprints are too crowded and 10.2s not cutting it. As a matter of fact 10.1s not cutting it either.