HUBERT LAWRENCE, STAR Writer

The MVP Track Club is as strong as ever. That message from club president Bruce James last September came in the background of departures of club stalwarts Asafa Powell, Melaine Walker, Sherone Simpson, and Michael Frater and the retirement of Brigitte Foster-Hylton. Fast-forward to July 2015 and it seems he was right.

At the recent National Senior Championships, several MVP and University of Technology athletes impressed. There were wins in the women's 100m, 200m, and 400m by Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, Elaine Thompson and Christine Day, respectively. Odayne Richards dominated in the men's shot put; and Rusheen McDonald, Julian Forte, and Simoya Campbell were also prominent.

"We are very happy that our young up-and-coming athletes have delivered," James said.

"Athletes who came into this year with personal bests that would not have made the Jamaican team are setting new personal bests this year both in the 100m and 200m," he continued.

There were also personal bests at the national championships for Shericka Jackson and Jonia McDonald in the 400m.

Jackson excelled with new lifetime marks in the heat, semi-finals, and final, and a second-place finish behind Day in 50.34 seconds.

James was also pleased about progress being made in non-sprint events.

"We're now diversifying and proving ourselves in the field events. Look at shot put with O'dayne Richards and 800m with Simoya Campbell, who is running sub-two minutes," he said.

"That diversification, as well as the youthfulness of the team, is very encouraging," he continued.

According to James, MVP is very pleased with Campbell's progress. The former Spalding High School star chased Natoya Goule home at the national championships.

Campbell then clocked 1:59.26 to finish second at the World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea.

Noting that Campbell, 21, has met the World Championship qualifying standard and is now the second-fastest Jamaican of all time, James said: "It's not just that she has arrived or barely made the standard, she is easily semi-final, if not final, material, and she still young."