Gayle: Team-selection process expected to be smooth

Last year, a few hiccups occurred during the selection process of Jamaica’s team for international track and field meets, but Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gayle says he is expecting a smoother process this year.

“We have had a few (applications from athletes to switch allegiance), but those that we have gotten, we have followed the due process,” Gayle said.

Last year, United States-born national 200 metres champion Andrew Hudson was not able to represent Jamaica at the World Championships or Commonwealth Games, and long-distance runner Adelle Tracey was unable to compete for the island at the Commonwealth Games despite competing for Jamaica in the 1500m and 800m at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, after switching international allegiance from Great Britain.

Hudson failed to get approval for a switch in time for the Games, and Tracey was unable to compete because of bureaucratic red tape.

Both athletes expressed their disappointment at not being able to represent Jamaica at the two meets.

To avoid similar incidents, Gayle said he has urged athletes to apply early to switch allegiances.

“Whenever an athlete chooses to request a transfer, we always ask that they do it early that we can do what we need to do then pass it on to World Athletics,” he said.

Gayle said that after the recent staging of the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championship,s some very good athletes will be representing the island in the upcoming meets.

“It was a very entertaining four days. We think the officials did their best, the athletes performed, and also the coaches who prepared them. It was a team effort, and we are happy another championships is now in the record books,” Gayle said.

He said the JAAA would begin the team-selection process soon. The main team to be selected is for the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, scheduled for August 19-27.

“We will also be selecting, in short order, the under-18, under-23 for the North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Championships in Costa Rica. We will also select the team for the Pan Am Under-20 Championships in Puerto Rico,” Gayle said.