OSAKA, Japan:

Ludlow Watts, manager of Jamaica's successful track and field team to the 11th IAAF world Championships which ended yesterday in Osaka, Japan, has described the overall performance as 'quite good'.

Watts, speaking shortly after the final event, the men's 4x400m, added: "Six silver medals, quite commendable. With a little luck we could have converted one or two of those into gold."

Watts said the pre-championships camp which was held in Tottori, Japan, two weeks before the event started, had helped tremendously to sharpen the athletes for the meet.

"It contributed significantly," he said. "One, we were able to get acclimatised to the conditions in Japan, and two, the relationship between us and the Japanese people was extremely good. They supported us, the meals were good, the facilities were also good and we could never have had a better preparation."

Clear of the controversy

Watts steered clear of the controversy regarding the non-participation of 400m hurdler Danny McFarlane in the 4x400m final. McFarlane, who finished fifth in the hurdles final in 48.59 seconds, had been tipped to run a leg in the final by his own teammates but the coaches decided not to use him. Jamaica finished fourth and out of the medals in the final in 3:00.76.

"I cannot really discuss coaching matters but I think what thecoaches did was the best they could have done in all the circumstances," Watts concluded.

Jamaica won 10 medals at the meet, the island's best showing in medals won at the 24-year-old championships.

- E. T.