AS was said in this space in the immediate aftermath of the Paris Olympics in mid-year, this newspaper does not believe the performance by Jamaican athletes was as poor as some have suggested.

The reality is that our field events athletes were outstanding. Their unprecedented performances gained Jamaica four of six medals in Paris, including the lone gold from Mr Roje Stona’s spectacular 70-metre discus throw — an Olympic record.

Yet, it is indisputable that on the track, just two medals — a 100-metre silver from the highly talented Mr Kishane Thompson and a bronze from sprint hurdler Mr Rasheed Broadbell — fell way below expectations.

The truth is that for most of the last two decades Jamaicans have become used to multiple gold medals at major games from an array of great sprinters — individually and in relays — including Mr Usain Bolt, Mrs Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Mrs Elaine Thompson-Herah.

Hence the call from legendary track coach Mr Glen Mills for Jamaica’s track and field to do serious, formal introspection regarding the reasons for the “dramatic drop” in performance on the track.

We note he has also questioned achievements at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, from which Jamaican athletes took home four gold and a bronze medal.

Said Mr Mills at a symposium led by The University of the West Indies (The UWI): “We have to pay attention to what happened in Paris and what happened in the recent World [Under-20], because they are showing the cracks and symptoms that exist that need urgent attention if we do not intend to fall into the quagmire that West Indies cricket has gotten itself into…”

We confess we are more than a little alarmed at Mr Mills’ assertion that, as far as he knows, there has been no comprehensive review of events in Paris.

From our perspective, such a review should take place as a matter of course. It shouldn’t only be about what went wrong but also those aspects that went well, such as on the field.

Mr Mills is urging “frank and clear discussion” involving the administrators of Jamaica’s track and field, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), and top professional clubs and coaches, as part of an effort to chart a way forward.

He wants a “a greater interworking relationship or connectivity” among all stakeholders “… in whatever planning and programme that is going to be developed…”

Crucially, Mr Mills wants greater professionalism in the administration of a sport which has “evolved far [beyond] what it used to be 20-30 years ago…”

That’s why he wants the Administration of Jamaica’s athletics to “look at itself…to identify what are the problems that exist and how… to tackle them…”

Quite apart from other reports of supposed missteps, it seemed to us that Jamaica’s embarrassing failure to have a 4×400 metre men’s relay team qualify for Paris underlined that need for greater efficiency in administration.

We believe Mr Mills’ suggestions make perfect sense and should be taken on board by all concerned, in a spirit overflowing with the need to serve the greater good of Jamaica’s track and field.