JAAA in a spin at C’wealth Games
Published:Monday | August 1, 2022 | 12:11 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
With only a day to go before the start of track and field competition at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Jamaica’s track and field team manager, Ludlow Watts, was busy seeking approval for some late inclusions to the team late last night after athletes pulled out at the last minute.
Contacted last night, Watts said he would not disclose any names until the approvals were in.
One athlete, middle-distance runner Adelle Tracey, who recently switched allegiance from Great Britain to Jamaica, will miss the Games due to red tape surrounding her switch of allegiance.
An athlete who has previously represented one Commonwealth country at a Commonwealth Games may not represent another Commonwealth country unless he or she receives prior approval of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
Tracey, who represented Jamaica at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon recently had run in England’s colours at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Another athlete was world champion over 200 metres, Shericka Jackson.
Jackson, who recently ended her World Championships experience with three medals - a gold and two silver - was down to compete but ran on Saturday at the Meeting Internazionale di Atletica Leggera in Italy.
Natasha Morris was also in Italy, along with Junelle Bromfield. Both were down to run for Jamaica when track and field action begins tomorrow.
In the meantime, Watts said he had received no response from the organisers and was awaiting confirmation before making any announcements.
FINAL DECISIONS
“I cannot tell you at the moment because there are some things that we are working on, and we are waiting on some final decisions. There are certain adjustments that have to be made, and we are waiting on the people to give us some answers and some confirmation,” he said.
When quizzed about the athletes who have withdrawn at the last minute, Watts said: “I do not want to call the names of any athlete. We have a series of things going through right now, and so I am waiting.”
He insisted that when the information is available from the organisers, he would be able to divulge who would be coming in to replace who.
“I have to work in a manner that when I say something, it is factual and it is done in a professional manner,” Watts said.