Determined McKay wins fitness battle

Published: Monday | December 8, 2008

JAMAICA's combined martial arts team, the Busta Fighters, will have its inspirational captain, Jason McKay, as part of its squad for the December 14 Caribbean Games in Havana, Cuba, after he passed a fitness test with flying colours on Saturday.

McKay, who had badly torn a calf muscle at the New York Invitational in September, which caused him to miss the Tae Kwon Do World Cup in Italy, on Saturday completed the Negril 10K in little over an hour under the watchful eyes of combined team medical personnel.

All-clear

McKay's effort, covering the distance without stopping, gave him the 'all-clear' to accompany the team, which seeks a fifth straight win over Cuba and 27th straight unbeaten bout.

The captain's fitness woes started at the September 28 New York Invitational where he tore a leg muscle, which later developed a clot, resulting in a deep vein thrombosis.

The injury saw him being given a 120-day no-competition order from medics with an evaluation due at the end of February.

However, the determined captain trained himself to rapid recovery and was at loggerheads with the team's medical staff.

Prior to Saturday's clearance, he had twice failed fitness tests but defied the odds in the 10K run.

The combined team leaves for Havana this Friday, February 12.

- Ainsley Walters