...Good show despite obstacles

Michael Carr, coach of Jamaica's team to the IAAF World Under-18 Championships Nairobi, Kenya, said he was pleased with country's athletes performance despite a number of setbacks.

Jamaica won eight medals, including three gold, two silver and three bronze to finish seventh overall.

"I would say it was a good performance considering all the obstacles we had to face," said Carr.

"A lot of these kids have been training now for nearly a year non-stop, peaking a few and coming back down. This is really back end of our season, and so to get eight medals, I think that was pretty good," he added.

He also noted that the distance of 15,000 miles to travel to Kenya may have played a role.

The veteran coach added injuries to a number of key persons at crucial moments of the championships also affected the team's medal haul.

"We fell short in a few areas because of injuries, but we don't have control over injuries and so I am quite satisfy," said Carr.

Edwin Allen student Kevona Davis was injured in the final of the 100m and ended up winning bronze after pulling up near the line with a hamstring injury.

Carr also applauded Kenya's track and field association for successfully staging the event.

"I think the Kenyans did a good job. It is was one of the best competitions we have been to in a long time, in terms of the food, people and the organization," he said, adding that despite concerns before championships started, security was no issue.

"We had a soldier with us and we were not allowed to travel outside of the village," Carr noted.