Optimism around Team Ja for World Relays
Published:Saturday | April 17, 2021 | 12:21 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
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Track and Field analyst Hubert Lawrence says that Jamaica’s selected men’s 4x100m relay team for the World Athletics Relay Championships is poised to secure qualification for the Olympic Games this summer. The World Relays will take place in...
Track and Field analyst Hubert Lawrence says that Jamaica’s selected men’s 4x100m relay team for the World Athletics Relay Championships is poised to secure qualification for the Olympic Games this summer.
The World Relays will take place in Silesian Park in Chorzów, Poland on the weekend of May 1 and 2. Jamaica’s team will be led by former 4x100m relay World Champions Asafa Powell and Nesta Carter. The Jamaicans will be among a number of nations who will be using the Championships to gain qualification for the Tokyo Games.
“This is a strange season where athletes all over the globe are having varying degrees of difficulty because of how they manage COVID-19 related lockdown in their home countries,” Lawrence said.
“Jamaica has had its fair share of interruptions too. However, the men’s 4x100m group contains lots of experience and should be able to get across the line.
Jamaica has assembled a strong team, which includes former 4x400m world champion Shericka Jackson, for the women’s 4x400m.
Lawrence said that he is expecting an outstanding performance from this team.
“For the same reason, with some big teams still to name their squads, it’s hard to tell what level of competition will be seen at the meet,” he said. “In all of that, the women’s 4x400m team looks very good on paper.
“Poland has not selected European champion Justyna Święty-Ersetic, who took the silver away from Jamaica in Doha, so it could be Jamaica versus the USA in Silesia.”
Jamaica’s best result at the tournament came in the first staging in 2014, when the team returned with five medals, which consisted of two gold, two silver, and one bronze while finishing at the top of the points standing.
Team Jamaica
4x100m women: Natasha Morrison, Natalliah Whyte, Ramona Burchell, Elaine Thompson Herah, Kashieka Cameron, Shashalee Forbes
4x100m men: Oshane Bailey, Nesta Carter, Julian Forte, Nigel Ellis, Romario Williams, Asafa Powell, Kadrain Goldson
4x200m women: Elaine Thompson Herah, Shashalee Forbes, Natalliah Whyte, Candice McLeod, Tiffany James, Anastasia Leroy
4x200m men: Nigel Ellis, Romario Williams, Kadrian Goldson, Michael Bentley
4x400m women: Stephenie Ann McPherson, Shericka Jackson, Shiann Salmon, Janieve Russell, Rhonda Whyte, Tovea Jenkins, Roneisha McGregor, Christine Day
4x400m men: Zadrian Barnes, Troy Whyte, Javon Francis, Terry Thomas, Keeno Burrell, Jamoi Jackson, Demar Murray, Nathon Allen
Shuttle hurdles: Rasheed Broadbelt, Ronald Levy, Deuce Carter, Janeek Brown, Megan Tapper, Jeanine Williams