Powell to lead Jamaica’s push for 4x400m Olympic qualification
Published:Thursday | June 13, 2024 | 12:11 AMRaymond Graham/Gleaner Writer
AFTER FAILING to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games in the men’s 4x400 metres relays at the World Relays in the Bahamas, Jamaica’s relay team will be seeking a spot when they compete this Sunday at the New Life Invitational in Nassau, Bahamas.
Yesterday, the Jamaica Athletics Administration (JAAA) released the names of six athletes who will compete at the meet as they look to run faster than 2:59.12 in their bid to overtake Zambia, who have the final qualifying spot.
The six include five, who last week, competed at the NCAA Division One Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The team is led by Jevaughn Powell, the fastest Jamaican so far over the one-lap event, who finished third in the event at the NCAA Championships in a personal best, 44.54 seconds, for the University of Florida.
Powell also ran the second leg on the University of Florida’s third-place finishing 4x400m team. His relay split was 44.34 seconds.
Powell will be joined by Raheem Hayles, Kimar Farqhuarson, Tarees Rhoden, Shevioe Reid, and the only local-based athlete, Malik James-King.
Farquharson, known more for his 800-metre prowess, ran a 44.38-second split for Texas A&M at the NCAAs, helping them to 2:58.37, a collegiate best.
Hayles, who has a season’s best of 45.74 seconds in the one-lap event, recorded a 45.84 split for the Florida Gators, who were third at the NCAAs.
Rhoden ran a personal best 1:45.70 for a fourth-place finish in the men’s 800 metres at the NCAA Championships while Reid was third in his semi-final 200m and 11th overall.
At the World Relays, the Jamaicans could only manage fifth in their second attempt in 3:05.09 after posting a season’s best 3:02.46 for third on the opening day.
Attempts to reach JAAA president Garth Gayle about the make-up of the team failed, however, a source close to the situation, who wishes to remain anonymous on account of not having the authority to speak on the matter, said the team was made up of athletes who made themselves available.