GARTH Gayle, president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), says the federation is pleased but not surprised that the country’s women were ranked first among the top 10 women in track and field coming out of the World Championships in the United States in July.

The Jamaican women, who won nine of the nation’s 10 medals at Hayward Field in Eugene Oregon — including gold medals in the 100m by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and the 200m by Shericka Jackson — tallied 75 points, one more than the USA. Ethiopia were third with 60 points.

The Jamaican men finished in a three-way tie for fifth on 20 points with Ethiopia and Uganda, while the USA were first with 118 points, well ahead of Kenya’s 46 points and Great Britain’s 28 points.

“Again, another excellent result. We knew the quality of the women team and we were pleased with their performances,” Gayle told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday.

“Our coaches in Eugene did exceedingly well in preparing and working with all athletes, along with the management teams, so it is not a surprise that our females did exceptionally well and also the men — notwithstanding a fifth position — but overall excellent performances by all concerned.”

It was a good year for Jamaica’s track and field, with outstanding results from the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham, England; the World Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia; the NACAC Open in The Bahamas; and the CARIFTA Games hosted in Kingston.

Gayle gave assurance the work would continue.

“We are looking forward to 2023 when we will continue to prepare our athletes — providing the opportunity and the conditions for our athletes to do well — and so we will work with all our coaches in order that every athlete is able to do his or her best in competition,” he said.

“Despite doing so well we will continue to set the bar higher. And, our attitude continues to be humble but thankful for our athletes coming through without no serious injuries, and we look forward to 2023 following the same order,” Gayle said.

The JAAA boss pointed to the remarkable performances of the juniors who won a record 90 plus medals at the CARIFTA Games and then won the most medals, 16, at the World Under-20 Championships.

“Out juniors continue to do us proud. I think we have some… Let me rephrase: [I do] not think, I know we have some of the best athletics coaches in our junior ranks.

“What served us very well was the youth training camps that we restarted, and we would have reaped all the outstanding results by having them in camps — and while they were in camps their coaches had access to the athletes.

“We were very careful, and we ensured in our selection there was continuity in the management and training staff that went to Colombia and those who worked at CARIFTA. We have a strong cadre of coaches here in Jamaica and we know they will continue to develop,” Gayle said.

Maurice Wilson, technical head of the national senior track and field team, implored that Jamaica must not allow itself to settle for this position but should instead look to supersede it.

Wilson, who is the principal at G C Foster College of Physical Education and Sport and the head coach at Sprintec Track Club, said it was “a great accomplishment” by the women.

“Having our women topping the world in terms of points, especially over a superpower such as the USA, this speaks to the level of discipline and commitment by the ladies. And the fact that they have strong competition amongst each other, it gives them the added motivation to excel.

“I am extremely happy, and I do believe that we are going to maintain this dominance for a period of time.”

The men, he reasoned, “performed creditably”. He, however, said: “There is much more that needs to be done. I believe that over time the men will regain their dominance, or at least improve on the fifth-place position.”

Wilson added: “When we do a summary, and based on the placing of the JAAA as an organisation we have been to some extent maintaining what is expected of us, we have to plan for the future in terms of future goals — not only to maintain but to supersede what we have been doing. But, overall congratulations to the ladies and to the JAAA, and encouraging signs from the men.”

At the newly renovated Hayward Field venue, Fraser-Pryce capped her stellar season with a fifth gold medal in the women’s 100m, winning in a championship record 10.67 seconds. She led a clean sweep of the medals with Jackson placing second in a personal best 10.73 and Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah third in 10.81.

Jackson also lowered the championships record in the 200m to 21.45, with Fraser-Pryce second in 21.81.

Britany Anderson, who set a national record 12.31 in the semi-finals, won a silver medal in the 100m hurdles while Shanieka Ricketts was second in the triple jump with a season’s best 14.89m.