Eatmon pleased with strong World Champs team
Published:Saturday | July 2, 2022 | 12:10 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
World Athletics Championships team manager Lincoln Eatmon says he is pleased with the strength of the team assembled that will battle for medals in Eugene, Oregon, starting in two weeks.
The full list of more than 60 athletes was released yesterday. Eatmon said that while he has deferred talk of medal count targets to technical leader Maurice Wilson, he is anticipating strong performances from the group assembled.
“We are happy with the team, especially with the women, the male sprinters are certainly looking up and we expect (strong performances in Oregon),” Eatmon told The Gleaner.
As expected, the team will be headlined by the likes of four-time World 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson Herah, national 100m and 200m champion Shericka Jackson for the women, while former world 100m champion Yohan Blake will be a part of a strong men’s sprinting squad that includes Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake.
National 200m champion Andrew Hudson will not represent Jamaica at the meet. Hudson, who was born in the United States and had competed for them years prior, had gone through the process to change his allegiance to Jamaica. However, Eatmon said that World Athletics approval would not have come in time for the championships
“(It was) because of his change of eligibility. World Athletics had indicated that the date for his eligibility would be July 28, after the championships,” Eatmon said. Ackeem Bloomfield will replace him in the 200m.
The team also comprises athletes that will be making their World Championship debuts including national high jump record holder Lamara Distin, 100m sprinter Kemba Nelson and national long jump champion Wayne Pinnock. Although he did not compete at the national championships, 2019 world championship silver medallist Fedrick Dacres earns a place on the team in the men’s discus as well as national champion Travis Smikle.
Wilson will lead yet another Jamaican team into a global championship and will have eight coaches on the team which include MVP head coach Paul Francis, Elite Performance head coach Reynaldo Walcott, and Titans Track Club coach Gregory Little. Eatmon says that the quality and the pedigree of the technical team cannot be questioned as they hope to improve their 2019 medal haul of 12.
“I don’t think that anyone can criticise the coaching staff that has been assembled. Each of them has produced top athletes and are still producing top athletes. We certainly don’t have any issues with our coaching staff,” Eatmon said.
Eatmon says that the technical team will start leaving for Oregon next week as well as the athletes to assemble for training camp. The championships begin on July 15.
Full team announced
Management
Women Men
100m Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce Yohan Blake
Shericka Jackson Oblique Seville
Kemba Nelson Ackeem Blake
Elaine Thompson-Herah Jelani Walker*
Briana Williams*
200m Shericka Jackson Yohan Blake
Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce Rasheed Dwyer
Elaine Thompson-Herah Akeem Bloomfield
Natalliah Whyte*
400m Candice McLeod Jevaughn Powell
Stephenie-Ann McPherson Christopher Taylor
Charokee Young Nathon Allen
Stacey-Ann Williams*
800m Natoya Goule Navasky Anderson
Crisann Gordon-Powell
Adelle Tracey
1500m Adelle Tracey
100m/110m hurdles: Britany Anderson Hansle Parchment
Megan Tapper Rasheed Broadbell
Danielle Williams Orlando Bennett
Demisha Roswell* Damion Thomas
400m hurdles Shiann Salmon Jaheel Hyde
Janieve Russell Kemar Mowatt
Rushell Clayton Shawn Rowe
Andrenette Knight*
High Jump Lamara Distin
Kimberly Williamson
Long Jump Chanice Porter Tajay Gayle
Wayne Pinnock
Triple Jump Shanieka Ricketts Jordan Scott
Kimberly Williams
Ackelia Smith
Shot Put Danniel Thomas Dodd
Llyodricia Cameron
Discus Samantha Hall Travis Smikle
Fedrick Dacres
Chad Wright
4x100m Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce Yohan Blake
Shericka Jackson Oblique Seville
Kemba Nelson Ackeem Blake
Elaine Thompson-Herah Jelani Walker
Briana Willaims Kemar Bailey-Cole
Remona Burchell Conroy Jones
4x400m Candice McLeod Jevaughn Powell
Stephenie-Ann McPherson Christopher Taylor
Charokee Young Nathon Allen
Stacey-Ann Williams Karayme Bartley
Roniesha McGregor Javon Francis
Natalliah Whyte Anthony Cox
4x400m Mixed Junelle Bromfield Akeem Bloomfield
Tiffany James-Rose Javon Francis
Manager: Lincoln Eatmon
Assistant Managers: Marie Tavares, Michael Frater
Doctor: Kevin Jones
Physiotherapist: Noel Brown
Massage Therapist: Jeffery King, Jowayne Johson, Keneil Brown, Troy Evans, Morine Dawson, Damion Rowe
Technical Director: Maurice Wilson
Coaches: Paul Francis
Bertland Cameron
Lennox Graham
Julian Robinson
Marlon Gayle
Reynaldo Walcott
Lamar Richards
Gregory Little
*alternate