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Shango
12-11-2007, 03:34 PM
I know it says track and field but being from Jamaica we love our sprinting. I hear people say that USA has the best sprinting credentials around. But I really do not think that title belongs to them? No prizes for guessing which country I think has the best sprinting. Anyone agree or disagree?
Mike88
12-11-2007, 05:25 PM
Jamaicans do have some good sprinting talent but sprinting is dominated by the USA. My all-time favorite sprinter comes from there, non other than Michael Johnson who made an all-time record in the 200m sprint race!!!
Shango
12-11-2007, 07:13 PM
Like boxing, pound for pound, Jamaica has to top the USA.
Run4Fun
12-11-2007, 10:07 PM
Just in the 100 meter race this year, Jamaica has 10 in the top List, and the USA has 19, and the US has a high schooler that has run a time faster than 5 of Jamaicas top people. Don't even get me started on the 200, or the 400, or even the 800 (yes, that's a sprint)

Yes, I would say that they are second to the US in the Sprinting Category, but the US is just so far ahead of every one, that its hard to compete.
Shango
12-15-2007, 10:20 PM
Pound for pound. Resources and talent pool. Has to be the country with the less resources and population.
John fr Sweden
12-16-2007, 11:18 AM
Pound for pound. Resources and talent pool. Has to be the country with the less resources and population.

You got a point Shango. Per capita Jamaica is a fantastic sprint nation. You only have about 3 million inhabitants compared to Americas 300 million. And I suppose Jamaica donīt have these well financed, elite surging high school and university teams (we donīt have them in Europe either).

So I wonder. Why are Jamaica such a good sprint nation? Why your country and not mine, with 9 million inhabitants? We only got Johan Wissman and the hurdler Susanna Kallur (Wissman is actually pretty close to do better than the jamaican record in the 400 metres, but behind him there is none that breaks the 46 sec barrier).

I Know about traditional elements going back to legends like Herbert McKenley, Arthur Wint and Don Quarrie. And I know about the perfect climate (compared to Sweden anyway). And I suppose the social structure of the Jamaican society plays a important part.

Perhaps you can give me some extended information around this topic. I Will soon write an article about swedish sprinting and want to do some relevant comparisons with Jamaica. If you can help me I would be very grateful.