SYDNEY
DR. WINSTON Dawes, a member of the medical team here with the Jamaican contingent at the 2000m Games, has blamed the weather for a few of the below par performances by the island's top athletes.
Sydney has been cold and damp for the past month and the track and field programme which began last Friday has been particularly affected by rain and icy temperatures inside the Olympic Stadium.
"The weather has certainly had a very negative effect," Dr Dawes said yesterday.
"James Beckford was badly affected. In Davian Clarke's case, I thought that the cold did have a negative effect on him and may have led to cramps in the 400 metres semi-finals.
"It probably demonstrates that athletes need to warm up extra special and then keep on your warm clothing for as long as possible."
Dr. Dawes added that Beckford complained about the conditions after failing by two centimetres to reach Thursday's long jump final.
"He said that he does not jump very well in the cold and it was a cold and windy this morning."
Clarke who complained about pain in his calf during the 400 metres semi-finals and fell on the track after 120 metres is recovering well.
"Davian had an ultrasound done on a top of the line machine and it showed no pulled muscle. It just demonstrated what we thought it was, just a cramp. It's far less tender now than it was on the night of competition when he could hardly move around. He is now walking and we have been iceing him. Hopefully we will know tomorrow (today) whether he can compete."
Dr Dawes said sprinter Patrick Jarrett also developed cramps when he ran down the track in the 100 metres second round and is now being treated. Hurlder Delloreen Ennis-London also blamed the cold for a slow start in her opening 100m heats but Michelle Freeman who ran in the same event is not blaming the weather for her elimination.
"I have run in worst conditions than this. It's not a factor. I am well prepared for this meet as I have trained in good weather and bad weather. It's just one of those days," Freeman said after placing seventh in a slow 13.52 in her second round heat.
Elton Tucker
