Ruddock in pain after the Class Two 100m heats.
THE 2006 VMBS/ISSA Boys' and Girls' Championships lost another of its big names when St. Jago's World Youth and Pan American Games 100m hurdles silver medallist, Natasha Ruddock, pulled out with a hamstring injury yesterday.
Ruddock's injury will severely hamper her school's chances of a top-three finish as teammate Latoya King, the World Youth 200m bronze medallist, was also hurt in the 100m preliminaries yesterday.
Ruddock tore her right hamstring while King aggravated a knee injury she suffered on the opening day in the 200m preliminaries. Ruddock, who eased up 50 metres out and limped over the line, was taken away on a stretcher, while King hobbled back to the start to pick up her gear. Both athletes, King ( 12.21) and Ruddock (12.36), qualified for today's quarter-final round.
However, St. Jago's coach, Raymond 'KC' Graham, said he will not let them continue in the championships.
"When King ran today, I took a chance," said Graham, who said the previous day she would take no further part in the meet.
"They (Ruddock and King) are two of the island's best junior athletes and with the World Junior coming up (August), I am not taking any more chances with them," he said.
"It's just unfortunate, but these things do happen."
Ruddock was tipped to win the 100m and 100m hurdles while King was highly favoured for the 200m. St. Jago were also among the favourites for the girls' Class Two sprint relay.
Graham said the two athletes, along with Shanique Smikle and Yanique Haye - who is not 100 per cent, will seriously affect his team's chances of a high finish. "Big, big blow," was how Graham described it. "We are looking at about 60 points there," he said of potential points given up.
As reported yesterday, Kingston College's Andre Wellington is also out of Champs. KC's coach, Lennox Graham, said the doctor diagnosed tendonitis behind a knee, but an MRI scan will be done to determine how serious the injury is.
"We are sure that he is out," Graham said. Graham said they will lose a lot of points "but whoever remains will have to carry on the job."
- Anthony Foster
