BRESSANONE, Italy

Danny Hawthorne, head coach of Jamaica's team to the 6th IAAF World Youth Champion-ships, has hailed the performances of the athletes despite managing only one bronze and a silver medal.

In the placing table, Jamaica ended 10th, having produced nine finalists, two, Danielle Dowie (400m hurdles) and Traves Smikle (discus), won a silver and a bronze medal respectively.

This means, come 2011 in Lille, France, Jamaica are guaranteed nine tickets.

inexperience

"I think given the inexperience of the athletes, they have tried their best," Hawthorne said.

"I must commended them for their efforts, to me it could have been better, but at least they have tried hard and we must commend them for that," he added.

However, the coach believed a part of the problem for the athletes was a lack of exposure.

"We need to expose these athletes some more," Hawthorne said.

Jamaica carried 21 athletes to Italy. Kemar Bailey-Cole, Adams Cummings, Wayne Hyman, A'Shawni Mitchell, Travis Smikle, Waquar DaCosta and Javere Bell represented the male athletes.

While Deandre Whitehorne, Danielle Dowie, Peta-Gaye Reid, Rochelle Farquharson, Kimberly Williamson, Janieve Russell, Sandrea Farquharson, Shericka Moulton, Celia Walters, Seidath Palmer, Ristananna Tracey, Samantha Elliott, Keena Davis, and Chantal Duncan were the female representatives.