Six Jamaican Olympians, who collected upgraded silver medals during the Mueller Anniversary Games in London on Sunday, said they were honoured to have their bronze medals from the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games upgraded but were greatly disappointed that no Jamaican officials were on hand for what was a special moment for them and the country they represented.

The women said they feel slighted because no Jamaican official accompanied them to the United Kingdom last week to collect their medals. They say they had mismatched uniforms, there was no one to greet them at the London Stadium, no one knew they were getting the medals and to date, no one has sent a congratulatory message.

One of the women who chose to remain unidentified said that when they arrived at the stadium on Sunday they saw Sprintec head coach Maurice Wilson, who seemed surprised to see them and asked why they were there. This, she said, suggested that not even the Jamaican coaches and athletes who were there knew that the women were going to have their medals upgraded on the day.

It is almost as if, they said, nobody cares about them once their careers are over.

The two teams had their medals upgraded due to doping sanctions handed to the silver medal-winning teams of Russia from both Games.

Shereefa Lloyd, Shericka Williams, Rosemarie Whyte-Robinson, Novlene Williams-Mills and Bobby-Gaye Wilkins collected silver medals for the mile relay in 2008 while Christine Day, Lloyd, Whyte-Robinson, Williams and Williams-Mills, collected silver medals for 2012.

Both teams received their medals on Sunday, July 21 on the final day of the Mueller Anniversary Games held in London. Two-time Olympic champion Mr Pal Schmitt, a member of the International Olympic Committee, presented the medals.

“For me personally it was an honour that after all these years we got our medals upgraded but the biggest part for me was that all these ladies that have run in the past were able to make the trip. For me, sharing that experience with them again was wonderful,” said Williams-Mills, who now has three Olympic silver medals and a bronze.

“For the Mueller Anniversary Diamond League to even extend that opportunity for us to come there and receive our medals, for the IOC to make sure that we rightfully got those medals after we started the process a year ago with the JOA, for them to accommodate us and make sure we feel the love is wonderful.”

She said it was also great that there were able to bring a few family members with them to witness them receive their medals enjoy a fun day watching Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce storm to 10.78 in the 100m, Akeem Bloomfield win the 400m in a season-best 44.40 and Rushell Clayton win the 400m hurdles in a personal-best 54.16.

“That was really good,” she said.

On the other side of the occasion is that that so few knew that they were going to be in London to collect those medals nor was there any representation from Jamaica.

“We didn’t have a representative from Jamaica, from the JOA, no one. I feel disappointed,” Williams-Mills said.

“For many years I represented Jamaica at the highest level. I have represented Jamaica at four Olympics at the highest level, World Championships at the highest level. I’ve made multiple Jamaica teams and for not one person from the JOA or in sports was able to make sure everything went smoothly and to ensure that we were taken care of was really disappointing.”

She said that no one from the JOA or JAAA to congratulate them and to ensure that everything went well was a slap in the face.

Lloyd said everything worked out in the end but, “Yes, I think official should have been there because it was difficult to get information about tickets and credentials to go to the stadium,” she said.

“Once we got to the stadium it was also a bit confusing because we didn’t have much direction or guidance. I also did not like the fact that we did not get the logistics about the trip until the day before we travelled. But overall, it wasn’t a bad trip and I do take into consideration that the time to prepare for the trip was short.”

West Indies cricket selectors have recalled Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard to the squad to play the first two T20 internationals against India early next month.

The head coach of St. Kitts and Nevis, Earl Jones, said his team’s belief and determination helped them rally from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw with Jamaica in their Group A preliminary round Olympic qualifier on Sunday night.

Jamaica’s Briana Williams has ended her successful career as a junior and will now focus on making the transition to the senior ranks.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has confirmed that she will be doing the sprint double at the IAAF World Championships of Athletics in Doha from September 28 to October 6.

Danielle Williams set a new national record while winning the 100m hurdles at the Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday.

The USA’s Matthew Boling drew first blood in his maiden clash with Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in the final of the 100m at the Pan Am U20 Championships in Costa Rica on Friday night.

Briana Williams followed up her NACAC U18 title with the Pan Am U20 title in Costa Rica on Friday night.

Jamaica’s Bovel McPherson and Doneisha Anderson of the Bahamas won bronze medals in the 400m on day one of the Pan American U20 Championships in Costa Rica on Friday.

Ackera Nugent and Akeem Cargill won Jamaica’s first medals on day one of the 2019 Pan American U20 Championships in Costa Rica on Friday.

Following Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw between Jamaica and Dominica, there is growing confidence within the St. Kitts and Nevis squad competing in the preliminary round of the men’s Olympic qualifying in Kingston.

Following two weeks of solid preparations, which ended with a 1-1 draw in a practice match against Antigua and Barbuda.

With the preparation behind them and having seen their opponents at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Wednesday, St. Kitts and Nevis believe their chances are good.

“From last night I feel we can match any team in this tournament,” said 21-year-old Yohannes Mitchum who just completed his contract with Puebla U23 in Mexico. “I am very confident that we can top the group.”

Team manager, Jamir Claxton, said his central midfielder’s confidence is not misplaced.

“We are very confident. This team is a very talented team that has been playing together for a number of years,” he said.

“In fact, the core of this team has been together from the 2017 CONCACAF U20 championships, plus some players from the last CONCACAF U20 tournament.

“Preparations have been going well. The majority of the players are playing in St. Kitts so there was no problem getting them together. Over the last two weeks, we had two overseas-based players join us.”

Besides Mitchum, the team boasts game-changing talent in several other positions as well. Midfielder Tyreese Shade suits up for Leicester City’s U21 team in the United Kingdom, Tahir Harley, a forward who plays for Village Superstars in the St. Kitts and Nevis Premier League and forward G’Vaune Amory will make life difficult for Jamaica and Dominica.

Success in the qualification process and the ultimate qualification for the 2020 Olympics would be an occasion for his country to savour.

“It would be a historic feat. It would mean a lot to the people of St.Kitts. This team is representative of our people,” Claxton said.

 “We are a small nation but we are always aiming for the stars to achieve an objective of that nature would bring joy, happiness and pride to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis.”

St. Kitts plays Dominica at 4:00 pm (5:00 pm ECT) Friday at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.

Maurice Wilson, head coach of the Sprintec Track Club, has come out against the proposed method for selecting Jamaica’s female sprint hurdlers for the team to compete at the IAAF World Championships in September.

Jamaica won a silver and two bronze medals in the individual age-group competition at the 2019 Caribbean Area Squash Association’s (CASA) Junior Championships currently underway in Trinidad and Tobago.