The team for the World Champs
MONTEGO BAY, St James — The deadline for teams participating in the 14th IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia, to be submitted to the IAAF is 5:00 pm Jamaican time today. And for Jamaica very few, if any, surprises are expected.
Double sprint world record-holder Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the world leader in both the 100m and 200m, are expected to lead the squads while injury and drug suspensions will force the selection committee to choose additional athletes, primarily for backup in the sprint relays, and this will open the door for some veterans and newcomers.
Former men’s 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, who was a disappointing seventh in the men’s 100m finals after being out for almost a year due to injuries, was a fan favourite to be included in the men’s sprint relay pool after running a season’s best 9.88 seconds while placing second to American Tyson Gay at a meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Powell and his MVP teammate Sherone Simpson however joined multi-world championships gold medallist Veronica Campbell Brown on the suspension list after both confessed two weeks ago to having tested positive for a banned stimulant oxilofrine at the JAAA National Senior Trials in June.
With 100m defending champion Yohan Blake being forced to withdraw, it is likely that the JAAA could give Diamond League champion Usain Bolt the wild card and add Nesta Carter to the men’s 100m line-up. Carter was fourth in the finals at the championships, but has since run 9.87 seconds at a meeting in Madrid, Spain, and the World Indoor silver medallist could make it to back-to-back finals after advancing to the last eight in Daegu, South Korea, two years ago.
Based on results from the JAAA National Senior Trials, as well as other championships, it is likely the selection committee could chose a 48-member team.
Here the Jamaica Observer makes makes its selection for World Champs 2013. MENWOMEN
100m- Usain Bolt, Kemar Bailey- Cole, Nickel Ashmeade, and Nesta Carter
200m- Bolt, Warren Weir, Ashmeade, and Jason Livermore
400m- Javere Bell, Javon Francis, and Rushane McDonald
110m hurdles- Hansle Parchment, Andrew Riley, and Dwight Thomas
400m hurdles- Leford Green, Annsert Whyte, and Roxroy Cato
Long jump- Damar Forbes
Shot put- O’Dayne Richards and Raymond Brown
4x100m relay- Bolt, Bailey-Cole, Ashmeade, Carter, Livermore, Oshane Bailey, and Winston Barnes
4x400m relay- Bell, Francis, McDonald, Akheem Gauntlett, Omar Johnson, Edinho Steele
100m- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Kerron Stewart, Schillonie Calvert, and Sherri-Ann Brooks
200m- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Anniesha McLaughlin, and Samantha Henry Robinson
400m- Novlene Williams-Mills, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, and Patricia Hall
800m- Natoya Goule
100m hurdle- Danielle Williams, Andrea Bliss, and Shermaine Williams
400m hurdles- Kaliese Spencer, Ristananna Tracey, Danielle Dowie, and Nickesha Wilson
Triple jump- Kimberly Williams and Trecia-Kay Smith
4x100m relay- Fraser-Pryce, Stewart, Calvert, Brooks, Carrie Russell, Natasha Morrison, Aleen Bailey, and Henry-Robinson
4x400m relay- Williams-Mills, McPherson, Hall, Anastasia Leroy, Christine Day, Spencer, and Rosemarie Whyte