ATHLETICS: Javon Francis heads Jamaica's team to Penn Relays

World Championships 4x400 metre silver medalist Javon Francis has been named in a 21-member squad to compete for Jamaica at the Penn Relays, from April 23-25 in the United States.

Francis will compete for Jamaica against the United States on a World 4X400 metres team alongside Javere Bell, Ricardo Chambers, Allodin Fothergill and Rusheen McDonald.

Francis will be competing for Jamaica at a senior level for the first time since anchoring the country's silver medal winning 4x400 metres team at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.

Francis missed out on the latter part of last season due to injury and as such was unable to represent Jamaica at the 2014 World Relays.

Former world record holder, Asafa Powell, is also set to compete in the 4x100 metres relays and will be joined by former MVP teammates, Nesta Carter and Michael Frater.

Kaliese Spencer and Stephanie McPherson are also named to the Jamaica team, which will also see the return of Olympic silver medalist, Sherone Simpson as well as Kerron Stewart and Shericka Williams.

Jamaica’s 4x100 metres relay title defense will rest with joint 2008 Olympic silver medal winners Simpson and Stewart, who have also been selected to run in the 4x200 metres.

The men’s 4X200m team will feature the likes of Nickel Ashmeade and Jermaine Brown.

The two will be joined by Jason Livermore and Rasheed Dwyer.

In the USA Versus the World women’s 4x400 metres race, Jamaica is expected to field a strong team, featuring Spencer, McPherson, Williams and Anastasia Le-Roy, along with Commonwealth 400 metres bronze medalist Christine Day.