EUGENE, Oregon — World Athletics Championships semi-finalist Adelle Tracey is still not sure that she will be allowed to compete for Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games set to start in Birmingham, United Kingdom, next week as she says she has not been cleared by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

Tracey, who switched national allegiance from Great Britain to compete for Jamaica where she was born and the country of her father — former Jamaica College 400m runner Nicholas Tracey — said she had no idea when the clearance would come through.

Additionally, if she does get the green light to run at the Commonwealth Games, Tracey said she has not made up her mind which of the two evens she will run, the 800m or the 1,500m.

The athlete, who won the 1,500m at the Jamaican Trials and was third in the 800m, said:”I am still awaiting for the Commonwealth Games Federation to clear my allegiance change and that is kinda the reason that I did both the 800m and 1,500m here because I wasn’t sure that I would be at the Commonwealth Games, of course that is my wish I want to go to the Commonwealth Games to see what I can do.”

After just failing to get into today’s 800m final at the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, after placing third in her semi-finals on Friday, Tracey expressed her frustration.

“I was so close to making the qualifying mark, yeah its a tough one and obviously coming into these championships my main aim was the 1,500m as that was kinda like what I was training for most of this year.”

Tracey had run a personal best 1:59.20 minutes in the first round of the 800m on Thursday, but could only produce 2:0021 on Friday, after also running two rounds of the 1,500m.

“Coming into the 800m I kinda surprised myself with the strength that I got from the 1,500m, so really had you asked me yesterday if I would be in this position just missing out on the final, I would have been proud of what I would have done, its funny how quickly your expectations change as obviously I wanted a lot more from my self,” Tracey noted.

If she does get clearance to run at the Commonwealth Games, Tracey said she and her coach would settle on one of the two middle distance events.

“I did two events here, [and] four races, so I think the smart thing to do would be to focus on just one. I don’t know what that will be yet, I am still excited about both of them to be honest,” she reasoned.

Tracey got a bit teary eyed when she was asked what it meant for her to wear the Jamaican colours.

“Honestly, this has been the most special experience for me, I get emotional talking about it because I don’t think its very often that one person gets to represent both sides of their heritage so I feel like really honoured and I know it means a great deal for my family,” she concluded.

— Paul Reid