An athlete's diet is as important to his or her success as is natural talent and good training.

Diet and nutrition are important to the the well-being of everyone, but especially to athletes whose bodies are put under more strain and pressure than the average joe.

eat a lot of carbs

Dean Tomlin, coach of the Bellefield High track and field team, home of long-distance star Kemoy Campbell, told THE STAR that great emphasis is placed on an athlete's diet. He said, "It's very important for them to eat a lot of carbs, like bread, yam, dumpling and so on, and to keep hydrated. Protein is also a must. Protein helps in the rebuilding process."

Tomlin, who coaches about 32 students, said it is sometimes challenging to provide for all the students, as the team has no official sponsor. He said, "Sometimes we buy Gatorade, like the powder, for weekend training, but during the week, we just use the things that we can afford."

The boys in his camp live on campus, but there is no space for the girls. Since he cannot monitor their every movement, he says he encourages them to practise the eating and dieting habits he enforces, even when they are away from training.

The diet for female athletes is sometimes slightly tailored, especially when it is time for their menstrual cycle. Tomlin explained, "We try to give them supplements when it is time for their menstrual cycle and we boost them up with more greens to replenish the iron they lose. So, at that time, we try to change their diet."

Tomlin told THE STAR that because they are in an area where they have ready access to foods in their natural state, he does not focus much on the use of supplements or packaged vitamins and minerals. He said, "I've spoken with some doctors and they say it is a waste of money to buy those things for athletes who live in areas where they can get the things naturally."

He said his athletes eat three meals per day, with snacks between meals. The snacks, he said, he is a bit more lenient with, and he allows them to eat whatever they choose at that time. Eating right, resting right and training right, he said, are key to becoming a successful athlete.

During the off-season, the athletes are encouraged to stick to their eating plan and, according to Tomlin, "Track and field is a continuous process, you constantly have to keep yourself healthy."

Tomlin has been coaching for 15 years and has helped to mould top athletes like Kemoy, Kevin Raymond and Omar Brooks. His diet and nutrition programme is, however, hampered by lack of funding. He told THE STAR that his applications for sponsorship have either been denied or gone unnoticed, but said he was still trying to secure funding.