TOKYO, Japan — Head coach for Jamaica’s team, Maurice Wilson, has hailed the country’s athletes for delivering a positive performance at the World Athletics Championships, describing their effort as a strong show of character despite challenges, while calling for additional support going forward.

Silver medals in the Women’s 4x400m and 4x100m relays on Sunday’s final day of competition took the Jamaicans’ medal tally to 10 — one gold, six silver, and three bronze — as the curtains came down inside the Japan National Stadium.

The output was a welcomed return to double figures after the disappointing six-medal return from the Paris Olympics last year, and Wilson was quick to point out that, in addition to the effort of the athletes, this was as a result of focused and intentional intervention from the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).

“Overall, I think the team performed extremely well,” Wilson told the Jamaica Observer.

“I think individually the team would have done extremely well because you are aware that we would have lost consistent medals out of the jumps and the throws, and so for the team to come and deliver double figures when persons were predicting that we wouldn’t have five or six, congratulations to the athletes, management and coaching staff,” he added in reference to the likes of Wayne Pinnock, Roje Stona, Rajindra Campbell and Jaydon Hibbert no longer being a part of the team after their transfer of allegiance application.

On Sunday, the women’s mile relay team, which was one of three Jamaican teams that missed out on automatic qualification from the World Relays, delivered a confident performance with the quartet of Dejanea Oakley, Stacey-Ann Williams, Andrenette Knight, and Nikisha Pryce clocking 3:19.25 minutes for second place behind the United States’ 3:16.61 — a championship record, with the Netherlands, 3:20.18, taking the bronze medal.

“I know that each and every lady is capable of giving their best, so we just needed everyone to focus on themselves, give their best legs and just get the baton to the finish, and that’s what we did, ended up with the silver medal and we are happy,” said Williams.

Knight, a 400m hurdler, admitted that she was not expecting to be called in for the final, but was thankful for the opportunity to contribute.

“I am super proud, I didn’t come here with the expectations to be on the 4x400m in the championships. I was excited and I was pumped, to be honest,” Knight shared.

It was Jamaica’s third-straight silver medal and 11th medal overall in the event — a tally that is only bettered by the United States with 17.

“This means a lot honestly, we are inspired by the ladies who came before us. Obviously, we would have been watching them on TV as youngsters and we just wanted to come out here and be a part of history,” Williams added.

The women’s 4x100m relay team of Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton, Jonielle Smith, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, competing in the last race of her storied career, clocked an impressive 41.79 seconds to take second place behind the United States, 41.75, in a nail-biting finish, as Germany, 41.87, took the bronze medal.

Fraser-Pryce, who ran a blistering opening leg, was extremely proud of the team’s effort and execution.

“To be able to give them the opportunity to go for gold, because, ultimately, that’s what I wanted to do. I really wanted to make sure I gave them a great start, because I knew we had a good team and they are contenders. We didn’t get the gold, but we got a silver medal from a brilliant run. We didn’t put down any medal out there so we have to be grateful for what we accomplished,” said Fraser-Pryce.

“It’s truly a wonderful feeling, and I would not be me if I didn’t say I give God all the glory because I feel good,” she added.

Seeing Fraser-Pryce, a symbol of track and field excellence and one of the sport’s greatest ambassadors secure another medal in her final run was one of several special moments that, for Wilson, defined the championships from a personal perspective.

“There were a lot of high moments, but for me personally, I was just so happy to see Tyler Mason getting a medal. He has been knocking on the door for a while and for him to get a medal — and that is why I am involved in the sport, I get thrilled by others’ success.

“There were so many other high moments, but also Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce being able to medal the last time out was also a very special moment for me,” said Wilson.

There would be no fairy-tale ending for the men’s 4x400m relay team of Delano Kennedy, Jevaughn Powell, Jasauna Dennis, and Rusheen McDonald, who clocked 3:03.46 to finish seventh in the event won by Botswana, 2:57.76 ahead of the United States, 2:57.83, and South Africa, which also posted 2:57.83.

Meanwhile, Wilson says he will be lobbying the JAAA for additional support for athletes at championships, pointing to the changing landscape and increased need for mental, dietary, and other areas of preparation to encourage peak performance.

“I have always been keen on having a system that gives support to the athletes, whether it be a nutritionist, a sports psychologists, and even a media liaison and the discussion continues. I think the JAAA president [Garth Gayle] is receptive to added information,” Wilson shared.

“The athletes are different, most of them are very exposed and they see what is happening with some of their competitors, and in order for them to have the competitive edge, they are going to look across and want everything that their competitors have in order to make them even more competitive, and so there is room for discussions on this and I think the president and the JAAA will be more than willing to accommodate that request.”

Wilson thanked the coaching team, management, and support staff for their input and work over the past few weeks, including at the pre-championships training camp in Tottori, while adding that there will be a review of several protocols.

“There were a few disappointments and some of these disappointments came as a result of lack of process and policy, but we continue to work towards achieving that. And the idea of having separate coaches manage the team, I think assisted; however, there needs to be deeper analysis when certain decisions are made,” Wilson shared.

“Well I think the narrative that has been haunting us from two years ago that was put on social media and which has created a lot of distrust and a lot of ignorance among a lot of persons, it is a burden that we carry when certain decisions are to be made,” said Wilson in reference to an outburst from sprinter Tyquendo Tracey, questioning relay team selection.

“For example, the coaches on the ground should be making decisions based on what we see, but sometimes we have to revert to policy to avoid the sort of slackness and nastiness that took place two years ago. It was evident where, for example, when you look at how the relay teams were set, it would have contravened some of what we would have decided and how persons think the relay teams should have been set, but we are in train to develop a policy and this is the start of it, and I am sure that the seven men who were a part of the relay pool, for the next six or seven years, they are going to dominate the 4x100m because they would have had experiences — good and bad — that will determine how we move forward.

Now they understand the process and now I am just hoping that the coaches, managers, and agents support what we have planned,” said Wilson.

The Jamaicans will turn their attention to the Commonwealth Games in 2026 with one eye on the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China, and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

From left: Dejanea Oakley, Nickisha Pryce, Stacey-Ann William and Andrenette Knight in celebratory mood after finishing with the silver medal in the women’s 4x400m relay final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday. (Garfield Robinson)

Team Jamaica head Coach Maurice Wilson (Photo: Garfield Robinson)