BUDAPEST, Hungary — Ever the perfectionist, Maurice Wilson, the technical leader of the Jamaican team at the World Athletics Championship said he was hoping for a “perfect” first session at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary but only three of the four athletes in individual events advanced to the next round.

National long jump champion Tissanna Hickling and the Mixed 4x400m relay did not make progress in their respective events.

Men’s shot put record holder Rajindra Campbell and world-leading long jumper Ackelia Smith both needed final-round efforts to get them through while Adelle Tracey also made progress.

Campbell threw 20.83m in the third round to qualify for tonight’s shot put final; Smith produced a clutch 6.78m effort in the women’s long jump, fifth best overall, after two fouls to make it to Sunday’s final, while Tracey clocked 4:03.67 seconds for fifth in her 1500m heat to qualify for the semi-finals.

The Mixed Relays team was ninth overall in 3:14.05 seconds, just missing the final while Hickling jumped 6.29m (0.9m/s) for 30th overall.

We would have loved to have had the Mixed Relay team going forward,” he told OBSERVER ONLINE, “that was very unfortunate with the obstruction of (Natoya) Goule but it is one of those things we have to continue to work at.”

Other than that, Wilson thought it was a good start to Jamaica’s showing at the Championships.

-Paul A Reid