Gayle backs ‘well-balanced’ World Championships team

PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Garth Gayle, has described the team selected for the September 13-21 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan as “well-balanced”.

“This team has youth and experience. It’s all about performance on the day, and I think the coaches have done a wonderful job,” said Gayle. He added that Jamaica will miss the athletes who have opted to switch allegiance to Turkey, but the way is open for others.

Veteran shot putter and multiple national champion Danniel Thomas-Dodd has also signalled that she wanted to be left out of the team for the championships.

“We got a letter at the last minute from Thomas-Dodd stating her wish to withdraw. No reason was given, but we accepted it and wish her the best,” Gayle said.

Gayle also explained the decision to include Tia Clayton in the team. Clayton pulled up in the women’s 100m final at the National Championships and did not finish. She has, however, recovered and performed very well on the Diamond League circuit in Europe.

“We have a selection committee, and this was a discretionary decision. After she missed out individually at the Diamond League, she was drafted into the relay pool. That was the only way she could make the team,” Gayle said. Clayton narrowly missed individual qualification after placing second at the Zurich Diamond League finals and is ranked fourth in the world with 10.82 seconds.

World leader in the men’s 100m, Kishane Thompson, and Diamond League women’s 100m hurdles champion, Ackera Nugent, have been named in a strong 60-member Jamaican team. The squad, announced by the JAAA on Saturday, includes 30 men and 30 women.

Thompson, who leads the world with 9.75, will be joined in the 100m by Oblique Seville, ranked fifth with 9.83, and Ackeem Blake, ranked 10th with 9.88.

In the 200 metres, Bryan Levell, world number three with a personal best of 19.69, will carry Jamaica’s hopes.

In the field events, long jumper Tajay Gayle, ranked third with a season’s best 8.34m, will lead the charge. He will be joined by Jordan Scott, third in the triple jump at 17.52m, and Ralford Mullings, ranked fourth in the discus with 72.01m.

Among the women, Nugent will be the leading competitor after winning the 100m hurdles at the Zurich Diamond League in 12.30. National champion Tina Clayton, ranked third in the world with a personal-best 10.81, also strengthens the team. Olympic silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts, ranked fifth in the triple jump with 14.64m, is another medal hopeful.

Also in the team are Shericka Jackson, the defending champion for the women’s 200m, 100m hurdles defending champion Danielle Williams, and men’s 400m defending champion Antonio Watson.

WOMEN

100m: Tina Clayton, Shericka Jackson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Alt: Jodean Williams

200m: Shericka Jackson, Gabrielle Matthews, Ashanti Moore

400m: Nickisha Pryce, Dejanea Oakley, Stacey-Ann Williams

Alt: Leah Anderson

800m: Kelly-Ann Beckford, Natoya Goule, Adelle Tracey

1500m: Adelle Tracey

100m hurdles: Amoi Brown, Ackera Nugent, Danielle Williams, Megan Tapper

400m hurdles: Shiann Salmon, Andrenette Knight, Rushell Clayton

Long Jump: Ackelia Smith

Triple jump: Ackelia Smith, Shanieka Ricketts

High jump: Lamara Distin

Shot Put: Lloydricia Cameron

Discus: Samantha Hall

Hammer: Nayoka Clunis

4x100m: Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton, Shericka Jackson, Jodean Williams, Joniel Smith, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

4x400m: Nickeisha Pryce, Dejanea Oakley, Leah Anderson, Stacey-Ann Williams, Shaquena Foote, Roneisha McGregor

4x400m Mixed Relay: Leah Anderson, Roneisha McGregor, Shaquena Foote, Jasuana Dennis, Bovel McPherson, Zandrion Barnes

MEN

100m: Kishane Thompson, Oblique Seville, Ackeem Blake

Alt: Ryiem Forde

200m: Bryan Levell, Christopher Taylor, Adrian Kerr

400m: Antonio Watson, Jevaughn Powell, Bovel McPherson, Rusheen McDonald

800m: Tyrice Taylor, Navasky Anderson

110m hurdles: Orlando Bennett, Tyler Mason, Demario Prince

400m hurdles: Roshawn Clarke, Malik James-King, Assinie Wilson

Long jump: Carey McLeod, Nikaoli Williams, Tajay Gayle

High jump: Romaine Beckford, Raymond Richards

Triple jump: Jordan Scott

Discus: Chad Wright, Fedrick Dacres

4x100m: Oblique Seville, Kishane Thompson, Ryiem Forde, Ackeem Blake, Kadrian Goldson, Rohan Watson

4x400m: Rusheen McDonald, Jevaughn Powell, Bovel McPherson, Jasuana Dennis, Antonio Watson, Zandrion Barnes

ALTERNATES (not travelling, only if needed):

Women’s 100mH: Kerrica Hill

Women’s 400mH: Sanique Walker

Men’s 110mH: Hansle Parchment

Men’s long jump: Shawn D. Thompson

MANAGEMENT

Manager: Ian Forbes

Assistant manager: Juliet Parkes,

Assistant manager/Safe guarding officer: Heleen Francis

Technical leader: Maurice Wilson

Coaches: Paul Francis, Marlon Gayle, Bertland Cameron, Mark Elliot, Michael Frater, Julian Robinson, Kerry-Lee Ricketts, Lacena Golding-Clarke

Doctor: Kevin Jones

Physiotherapist: Offneil Lamont

Massage therapists: Evan Allen, Jowayne Johnson, Damion Rowe, Okiele Stewart, Oral Thompson, Garfield Simmonds,