JAAA grateful for government assistance to athletes

JAMAICA ATHLETICS Administrative Association (JAAA) president, Garth Gayle, is a happy man.

Gayle’s pleasure has come from the announcement that the country’s senior athletes who qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris will be given financial assistance by the Government of Jamaica.

“Once again the Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Sport, has come forward to assist our athletes with their preparation for the Olympics.

“This will definitely go a far way with their preparation and I am very thankful and grateful for this kind gesture,” said Gayle.

At a press conference yesterday at the JAAA conference room on Tremaine Road, just three days ahead of the JAAA Puma National Junior and Senior Championships, Minister of Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange made the announcement.

Each athlete who makes the team to the Olympics will receive $360,000 towards their preparation.

The four-day championships, which start on Thursday, will also see junior athletes seeking spots on the national team to the World Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru, from August 27-31.

The championships, combined, will witness a record 680 athletes competing over the four days.

A major scheduling change at the championships was also revealed yesterday.

There will only be three rounds of the men’s 400 metres with the first round to get underway on Thursday’s opening day at 10:00 a.m., to be followed by the semifinal round later that day at 6:50 pm. The final is slated for 8:50 p.m. on Friday’s second day.

The adjustment was made to give the 400-metre athletes enough rest to make a final attempt at qualifying for the men’s 4x400-metre relay at the Olympic Games. The relay is scheduled to get underway at 8:05 p.m. on Sunday’s final day.

Thursday’s opening day will see five finals contested – the girls’ under-20 discus, girls’ under-20 triple and long jumps, the women’s high jump, as well as the men’s 5000 metres.