‘Unfortunate series of events’

JAMAICAN VETERAN track and field coach Glen Mills called it ‘really disappointing’ to see Jamaica fail to qualify for the Paris Olympics men’s 4x400m event.

Jamaica entered the NACAC New Life Invitational on Sunday ranked just outside the top 16 teams heading to the Olympic Games and needed to better Zambia’s mark of two minutes, 59.12 seconds just to have a chance.

Despite a valiant effort from the quartet of Reheem Hayles, Jevaughn Powell, Kimar Farquharson, and Tarees Rhoden, the disappointment when the clock stopped at 2:59.75 was palpable.

The Jamaicans set a new meet record, running away with the event ahead of second-place Barbados, 3:03.65.

Mills, while considering the result disappointing for the men’s 4x400m relay programme, would not call the failure a blotch on Jamaica’s reputation in track and field.

“The most I can say about it is that it’s really disappointing where it appears that we won’t be able to be represented at the Olympics,” he said.

“It is an unfortunate series of events, but there is no disgrace. It’s just one of those things that we weren’t able to put a strong enough team at the time. But I think the JAAA are the ones that can give a greater explanation on the difficulties or what efforts were made.”

Jamaica initially missed out on automatic qualification after the team’s performance during the World Athletics Relays in May and have not recovered.

Jamaica fell just short during the first round of qualifiers, finishing third in their heat in 3:02.46, behind Belgium, 3:00.09, and Nigeria, 3:01.70.

With a second chance at qualification during the repechage round, Jamaica were once again off the pace, the team finishing 15th overall in 3:05.09.

There were comments in the public about the selection process for athletes to compete in the event. However, Mills said questions must be asked of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).

Plagued with withdrawals

In a press release following the World Relays, the JAAA maintained the utmost effort was made to select the best team possible for Olympic qualification despite athlete withdrawals.

“As is the norm, prior to selection, athletes, coaches and agents were contacted with a deadline date regarding their availability,” the press release read. “After selection and team entry, we were plagued with withdrawals and had to continue with those available.”

And again, ahead of the Bahamas jaunt, the JAAA insisted it could not have put together a better team.

Not long after the initial failure to qualify, the JAAA had sent a document to media, outlining the requirements for making the coutry’s Olympic team.

Interestingly, a line item in that document spoke to relays but suggested that those decisions were to be made after a relay team is picked.

“It is a condition for selection that the athletes selected for the relay pool should make themselves available when required for relay practice. Athletes who fail to make themselves available may not be allowed to participate in the competition,” the document read.

There has been the suggestion that the stance should be extended to include all relay events that Jamaica are part of.

“Only the JAAA can explain that because they are the ones who should be in contact with the various athletes, so I couldn’t tell why. I suppose they had contacted the athletes and they weren’t available but I wouldn’t know,” said Mills.