MVP might leave Jamaica

MAXIMIZING VELOCITY and Power (MVP) Track Club, the home of Olym-pic champions Shelly-Ann Fraser and Melaine Walker, along with Asafa Powell, could leave Jamaica soon.

Paul Francis, the group's assistant coach and director, confirmed what his brother and head coach, Stephen Francis, said on local radio on Tuesday night.

May happen sooner

"That (move) is something that has to be thought about and it may happen sooner than later," Paul Francis said, echoing the comments made by his brother on Hitz 92 FM's Sports Grill programme on Tuesday night.

At the just-concluded Olympic Games in Beijing, China, the club's athletes won five individual medals. Fraser struck gold in the women's 100m in a personal best 10.78, the second-fastest time by any Jamaican woman, and Walker won the 400m hurdles in a Games' record 52.64 and her lifetime best.

Sherone Simpson, in the women's 100m, and quarter-miler Shericka Williams, won silver in their respective events. Great Britain's Germaine Mason, also a member of the club, won silver in the men's high jump, leaping a personal best 2.34m.

Added to that, MVP boasted three members of the island's victorious 4x100m team - Michael Frater, Nesta Carter and Powell, who helped Jamaica to a world record 37.10 seconds.

As to why the club is contemplating this move, especially with the success of training at the University of the Technology (UTech) and Stadium East, Paul Francis, could only repeat what his brother said: "Because he (Stephen) has been getting strong demand to coach other athletes and some of these athletes may not sit well with Jamaica."

Avoiding discussion

MVP President Bruce James yesterday tried to avoid discussing if the club was planning a move and said: "MVP track and field club is always trying to do what is in the best interest of our athletes ... and once we do what's best for ourathletes, it will benefit the country."

Apart from Mason, who switched allegiance to Great Britain more than three years ago, Stephen Francis has coached a few other overseas athletes.

Darrell Brown of Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbadians Andrew Hinds and Wilan Louis are among that group.

Stephen Francis also told Sports Grill that Simpson could be out of action for six to eight months. According to Paul Francis, the head coach believes a bad track at the JOA/JAAA camp in Tianjin could have contributed to Simpson's injury.

The nature and extent of her injury should be known within days.