Chad Wright returns to US Embassy on Friday
EUGENE, Oregon — Olympic discus throw finalist Chad Wright is expected to return to the US Embassy in Kingston on Friday where he hopes that an appeal for a US entry visa will be granted.
The former national and NCAA champion while at the University of Nebraska is racing against the clock to get to Eugene, Oregon, by Sunday when he is due to take part in the first round of the men’s discus throw set to start at 5:00 pm local time.
The Jamaica Observer learned on Wednesday morning that Wright, who qualified for the World Championships by his world rankings, was “having visa issues”.
Sources later told the Observer that an appeal was filed on Wright’s behalf and he was given a new date to appear at the embassy on Friday.
In the meantime, national discus champion Traves Smikle and 2019 World Championships silver medallist Fedrick Dacres have been in Eugene since last week.
Meanwhile, St Jago High schoolboy Gregory Prince, whose departure from Jamaica was delayed, was expected in the team village last night after he left the island Wednesday afternoon.
Prince, who qualified for the finals of the 400m at the Jamaican championships last month, has been named as part of the mixed 4x400m relay team that will compete on Friday’s opening day.
There was positive news in the camp after sprinter Jelani Walker was cleared by team doctors and joined the other team members on Wednesday afternoon.
The Observer had been told on Wednesday morning by liaison officer Dennis Gordon that Walker had fallen ill and was unable to join the team. But later the athlete’s health improved and he was able to join his teammates.
Walker had placed fourth in the men’s 100m finals at the Jamaican Championships last month, running 10.00 seconds, and is expected to join Yohan Blake, Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake on the men’s 4x100m relay team here.
Two other athletes, Chanice Porter and Chriss Ann Gordon-Powell, are yet to join the team as they had been granted an extension by the management here.
Porter, who will contest the women’s long jump, and Gordon-Powell the women’s 800m, had requested more time with their respective coaches. They are expected to report to camp on Friday.
