#BEIJING2015: PM hails 4x100m relay teams
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has hailed Jamaica’s men and women relay teams for adding two more gold medals to the country’s tally.
Jamaica is now in second place on the medal table with 11 medals — six gold, two silver and three bronze.
“I congratulate both the women and men squads most sincerely for their absolutely brilliant relay runs that have once again delighted the hearts of all Jamaicans at home and in the Diaspora, as well as the many fans of Jamaica worldwide,” Simpson Miller said in a statement on Saturday.
In congratulating the women’s team of Veronica Campbell-Brown, Natasha Morrison, Elaine Thompson, and Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, the prime minister also praised squad members Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, who both ran the heats to ensure Jamaica’s place in the finals.
The men, Nesta Carter, Asafa Powell, Nickel Ashmeade, and Usain Bolt, assisted by Rasheed Dwyer in the heats, were also congratulated by Simpson Miller.
“The relays require great discipline, hard work, consistency and teamwork and our athletes have repeatedly delivered to prove once again, our athletic supremacy in the world,” she said.
She also commended Jamaican discus thrower Fedrick Dacres who participated in the final of the event. Dacres finished seventh in the event.
Simpson Miller lauded the technical and administrative teams and noted that Jamaica’s school and community based athletics culture and programmes continue to be important support systems for the country’s athletes.
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