Jamaica Gleaner Online
Frater pulls out of meet
published: Saturday | May 6, 2006
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS silver medallist Michael Frater has pulled out of this evening’s Jamaica International Invitational Area Permit Meet because of what his coach terms as “disrespect” meted out to his athlete.
Coach Stephen Francis told The Gleaner yesterday evening that the organisers forgot that Frater is a world 100m silver medallist, thus causing them to “disrespect” his athlete.
Francis said as a World Championships silver medallist, Frater is not getting the money he deserves.
“That (money) is the crunch of the matter,” Francis said. “He is being disrespected by the organisers as usual,” added the outspoken Francis.
“It’s not about the amount (of money), but the amount relative to what others are getting,” explained Francis.
“He is the only global medallist in the race, but obviously they did not want him in the race,” argued Francis, who also conditions world 100m record holder Asafa Powell, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and national 400m champion Shericka Williams, Olympic sprint relay and Commonwealth Games 200m gold medallist Sherone Simpson, among other top local stars.
Francis said Frater, who was disqualified from the Commonwealth Games 100m semi-finals for a false start, is disappointed with the fact that he will not run.
“They don’t realise that he is the world 100m silver medallist,” added Francis while saying Frater will be competing in the Dominican Republic next week.
The Dominican Republic’s Olympic 400m hurdles cham-pion Felix Sanchez also pulled out of the meet, with an injury.
A.F.
SCHEDULE
TIME EVENT
6:30 4x100m High School Relay Girls
6:40 4x100m High School Relay Boys
6:45 Opening Ceremony
7:00 High Jump Women
7:00 400m hurdles Women
7:10 400m hurdles Men
7:25 1500m Men
7:35 100m Women
7:40 100 men
7:50 800m Women
8:00 800m Men
8:10 Triple Jump Women
8:15 100m hurdles Women
8:20 110m hurdles Men
8:35 400m Men
8:45 4x400m High School relays Girls
9:00 200m Men
9:05 200m Women
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