Flu hits Jamaican camp at World Juniors

Ryon Jones, Staff Reporter

BARCELONA, Spain:
Some of Jamaica’s athletes currently participating at the 14th IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain have been suffering from flu-like symptoms.

The 800 metres duo of Simoya Campbell and Desreen Montaque, who are roommates, both complained of being ill following their races this morning.

"I am kind of sick right now, I don’t know what caused that, but I am not feeling 100 per cent," said Campbell, who progressed to tomorrow’s semi-final after placing third in her heat.

Montaque failed to make it to semi-finals, after finishing fifth in her heat.

"I feel weak and they drew blood this morning," an obviously disappointed Montaque said.

Majority of the athletes returned from the Central American and Caribbean Games held in El Salvador just before journeying to Barcelona.

“The thing is, some of the athletes... were carrying a little bit of viral illnesses and we know that once we hydrate them and give them vitamin C they should be alright,” team doctor, Lincoln Cox, explained.

“Two of them also had diarrhoea, one has been resolved and the other is resolving,” he added.

“A couple of other athletes are coughing as well, but they will be fine,” Cox said.

Meanwhile, four of the male athletes had anxious moments yesterday after they got on the wrong bus following their training session and were taken to the wrong hotel.

"They did not look to see where the bus was going and they got on the wrong bus, but happily they got back to the hotel safely and we are thankful for that," team leader Julette Parkes commented.

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