FROM THE SPORTS DESK

BY HARTLEY ANDERSON

AS has obtained for the past few Olympic Games, Jamaican athletes have done their country proud while being dignified ambassadors away from home.

By copping a respectable 12-medal haul and reaching a number of finals at this XXXth Olympiad in London, the Jamaicans underscored the phenomenal talent and coaching expertise that reside right here on local soil.

However, while we recline in the glory of our recent exploits, led by the peerless Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, there is a grey area surrounding our ‘bread and butter’ sprint domain which requires urgent attention if we’re to uphold the heights attained by past and present stars.

Euphoric as we are about the impact Jamaicans continue to make on the world stage, the experts would agree and be concerned about the chasm between our elite female sprinters and those waiting in the wings. With the imminent departure of a few veterans, this is a burning call for worthy successors.

For, with the exception of Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell Brown, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson, there is a flagrant deficiency of quality ‘next generation’ female sprinters at this point, as we have previously articulated.

The reality is that while Fraser-Pryce, at 25, could still be at her peak and, if motivated, be a dominant factor in Rio in another four years, VCB will be 34 and could have hung up her spikes following a glittering senior career spanning more than a decade.

Again, with Simpson and Stewart seemingly past their best after their climactic silver medal efforts in Beijing, along with a bonus relay silver mere days ago, a new breed must now emerge to take up the illustrious tradition for which we are renowned.

Ironically, one recalls that, the evergreen Merlene Ottey was the sole standard bearer among the Jamaican women for some time, abetted at key moments by Grace Jackson and Juliet Cuthbert, who were both good enough to win individual Olympic medals.

Then came the next generation, including Tayna Lawrence, who upped the tempo by landing gold medals in both individual and relay events — hitherto an unthinkable feat in the face of dubious domination by athletes from the ‘Eastern block’.

Having finally the breakthrough after years of trying, the onus is now on the local athletic administration to ensure a perpetuation in this area, since the men have demonstrated the depth and talent to last us well into the next two Games.

Indeed, the cyclical nature of the sport was very much on show in London where the men garnered the majority of the medals this time around, in stark contrast to Beijing where the women accounted for eight of the 11 medals won by the country.

At this momentus homecoming of sorts for in London, the Jamaican men notched eight of the unprecedented 12 medals won to consummate the existing paradigm.

Further, having seen surprise 200m bronze medallist Warren Weir and relay pool member Kemar Bailey-Cole strut their stuff at these Games, the direction in which the Jamaican male sprinters are headed leaves little to the imagination.

In another vein, one of the highlights of the Games for me was the podium finishes by Hansle Parchment and Weir. They effectively boosted our medal haul and somewhat compensated for the disappointment of Melaine Walker, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and the men’s mile relay team.

Despite a worthy triumph at the World University Games in China earlier this season, Parchment emerged from virtual obscurity to claim a fine third-place finish in the 110m hurdles.

Indeed, the 6’5″ UWI star warmed hearts just as much for his surprising medal as for his cool head and clinical execution in the technical event; this bodes much for the future.

Competing against the big boys, including Aries Merritt, Jason Richardson and Dayron Robles, the new hurdling sensation was simply remarkable.

Blessed with height (which, before Bolt, was not considered a huge asset in any sprint event under 200m), Parchment used his giant strides to gradually reel in the front-runners and hand his country an unlikely but desperately needed boost just when events appeared to be going against the script.

With his physical frame, natural speed and athletic ability, Parchment, who now holds the national record of 13.12 seconds, is set to go places. Being under the probing eyes of Fitz Coleman, one of the finest hurdles coaches on the planet, will also give him an edge.

As well as he did in London, however, I believe Parchment would acquit himself even better in the longer hurdles event. As 35-year-old Felix Sanchez showed, that event is now wide open with no single individual dominating.

This notion is validated by the expected departure of two-time Olympic champion Angelo Taylo after an illustrious career; the fickleness of former world champion Kerron Clement, and the persistent underachievement of Javier Coulson.

Similarly, with no horizons left to conquer, it would not be reckless to envision Bolt stepping up to the 400 for the next Olympics as a challenge both to himself and world and Olympic champion Kirani James.

After all, great sportsmen are always seeking ways of motivating themselves.