Since the majority of Jamaicans trace their ancestry to West Africa I would expect to see fast sprinter's coming out of countries like Nigeria if genetics was the dominant factor. But this is rarely the case. Which is why the role of cultural influence and exposure should not be underestimated. Many Jamaicans get serious exposure to track at an early age with their
prep school champs where rival schools compete against each other to be acclaimed the fastest in the country. That event has a 100 year history -
don't understimate the influence of programs like these in giving kids a head start.