Coach Francis Gives Update on Kishane Thompson, Shericka Jackson and Tia Clayton
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The 2024 Olympics is currently underway in Paris, France, and as sprint fans eagerly await the men’s and women’s 100m and 200m finals, track coach Stephen Francis spoke briefly on MVP members Shericka Jackson, Kishane Thompson, and Tia Clayton.
A tight-lipped Francis told the press that he is not a prophet during an interview released on Tuesday, and so he cannot predict what the athletes will do. The track coach has never been one to overhype his club’s athletes or ignite heightened expectations for their performances on the track.
While he was hesitant to speak in detail about what athletic fans can expect in the coming days, Francis said, “They seem to be okay.” He also expressed similar sentiments when speaking on Jackson’s health status and said her medical personnel would have to address any questions about her rumoured injury status.
“As far as I know, she appears to be okay to me,” Francis stated.
The sprinter had suffered an apparent injury in the women’s 200m race at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial earlier this month, during which she pulled up and limped across the finish line. In regards to first-time Olympian Kishane Thompson, Francis said he does not think anyone has really seen him run yet.
He further stated that the outcome of a race does not depend on one sprinter but on the performance of all eight participants. Nonetheless, Francis shared that Thompson is in just as good a form as the national trials.
Francis also dismissed the notion that Thompson is under any mental pressure amid high expectations from fans.
“I don’t see the pressure [ … ] everybody is talking about experience and mental, it’s all about speed. When the gun fires, you run [ … ] Who ever gets there first wins. So it has nothing to do with experience or mental pressure; he just has to be able to execute as well as he can,” Francis stated.
He also dismissed concerns about Thompson’s form.
“I don’t understand; he ran 9.82, 9.84, and 9.77; not even Usain Bolt has ever had that in a series in a championship. I don’t see what everybody is worried about [ … ] I don’t think anybody else has done that. I haven’t checked everybody, but I’ve checked a lot, so I don’t see what everybody is worried about. I don’t think, based on his June shape, there is much to worry about.”
Francis went on to talk about Tia Clayton. Sharing that the young sprinter was “slightly off” at the Olympic trials, the coach said the only question that remains is if she will be at her very best. Francis added that he is expecting Clayton to be in her best form for her first Olympics.
In separate interviews, Francis discussed the Jamaica Olympic Association’s (JOA) decision not to accommodate alternate athletes in Paris for Jamaica’s relay teams. He also discussed the difficulties athletes have been having in the Athletes Village.
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