Gayle cautiously optimistic over Commonwealth Games appearance
Published:Sunday | July 24, 2022 | 12:10 AM
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EUGENE, Oregon: WHILE THERE are signs that former world long jump champion Tajay Gayle is improving, coach Stephen Francis, says that he is still cautious about his chances to compete at the Commonwealth Games,...
EUGENE, Oregon:
WHILE THERE are signs that former world long jump champion Tajay Gayle is improving, coach Stephen Francis, says that he is still cautious about his chances to compete at the Commonwealth Games, which start on Thursday.
Gayle suffered a bone bruise during Jamaica’s national championships in June and competed on the opening day of the World Athletics Championships on July 15, but did not qualify for the final after three fouled attempts.
Sprinting had improved
After the event, Gayle said he was pleased with how much his sprinting had improved, compared to the days leading up to the event, an assessment with which Francis also concurs.
“It seems to be a whole lot better. He is sprinting much better now and hopefully (this) week when he goes to Europe he can start (full training),” Francis said.
Gayle will head to Birmingham, England after the championships conclude today and Francis says that, when he starts training this week, they will make a determination on whether he is fit enough to compete.
“He will start training on Tuesday and then we will see if over the next five days it will continue to get better,” Francis said.
The men’s long jump qualification will take place on August 2.
If he is cleared to compete, it will be the third time that Gayle will be involved in competition outside of Jamaica this season. Prior to the national championships, the 2019 World Champion said he struggled this season with only four meets before the national championships, compared to nine events last year.
Should he not compete at the Commonwealth Games, Francis says that they are exploring other opportunities for the remainder of the season, with the earliest chance being the August 6 Diamond League meet in Poland.
“We are trying to see if he can go be ready to go to the Silesia (Poland) meet on the sixth of August and, if not, there are meets after, but we will see,” Francis said .