Jamaica set to enjoy World Champs relays
Published:Sunday | August 13, 2023 | 12:15 AMRaymond Graham - Gleaner Writer
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OVER THE years, the country’s athletes have had good results in relays at the World Athletics Championships, a trend that looks likely to continue in Budapest. In Doha in 2019, the country had medals in four of five relays, with the women mining...
OVER THE years, the country’s athletes have had good results in relays at the World Athletics Championships, a trend that looks likely to continue in Budapest.
In Doha in 2019, the country had medals in four of five relays, with the women mining gold in the 4x100 and picking up bronze in the 4x400 metres. The men pocketed silver in the 4x400 metres relay and silver in the mixed relay.
In Eugene last year, there was no gold for Jamaica, but the women earned silver in the 4x100 and 4x400-metre relays, while the men picked up silver in the 4x400.
In Budapast, chances are that all five relay teams could be among the medals this time around. Both women’s and men’s 4x100-metre relay teams can make it to the podium, where the former will try to make up for Eugene where they finished second, despite having the first-, second- and third-place finishers over the individual 100.
Lightning is unlikely to strike twice with the team of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, Natasha Morrison, and Shashalee Forbes.
The team looks set for redemption.
Jamaica’s women are not at their best this season in the individual 400 metres, with nobody having gone below 50 seconds.
Still, the team of Stacy-Ann Williams, Janieve Russell, Candice McLeod, and Charokee Young, who were part of the team last year, along with rookie Nickeisha Pryce, the national champion, should produce a podium-worthy performance.
Since the 2015 World Championships in Beijing when Usain Bolt anchored the men’s 4x100-metre team to victory, Jamaica has not medalled.
With Ackeem Blake and Oblique Seville back after their debuts at this level last year, the post-Bolt funk could be broken. Both, along with Rohan Watson and Ryiem Forde, have gone sub 10 seconds this season, and look set to challenge defending champions Canada and the United States for the gold medal.
An excellent leg from Christopher Taylor last year pushed the Jamaicans to silver in the men’s 4x400. Despite his absence, and only Jhevaughn Powell returning from that team, expectations are still high.
Three members are expected to compete here. Sean Bailey, Antonio Watson and Zadrion Barnes have gone sub-45 seconds, while Powell has a season’s best of 45.02. Those times combined suggest the Jamaicans will not be overmatched against those seeking medal placings.
The make-up of the mixed relay team isn’t yet known, but there is one name, Rusheen McDonald, who is on that team, and his low 44-second performances could spell another medal for the Jamaicans.