16 J’cans lined up for NACAC New Life meet in Nassau
KINGSTON, Jamaica — In addition to the men’s 4x400m relay team seeking to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games, 16 Jamaicans are scheduled to compete in individual events at Sunday’s NACAC New Life Invitational to be held at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
National record holder Navasky Anderson who has already secured qualification to the Olympics as well as sprint hurdler Ackera Nugent and women’s 4x400m relays medallists from last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary Candice McLeod and Charokee Young, are among those who will be competing.
Anderson and NCAA Indoor and outdoor finalist Tarees Rhoden are set to contest the men’s 800m where they will square off with former Jamaica College representative Handal Roban of St Vincent and Luis Peralta of the Dominican Republic.
Nugent is expected to be challenged by the Bahamian Charisma Taylor and Emelia Chatfield of the USA in the 100m hurdles with Damion Thomas down to contest the 110m hurdles alongside another Bahamian Antoine Andres and Yohan Chaverra of Colombia.
McLeod, who opened her season a few weeks ago, Young and Leah Anderson will contest the women’s 400m where Bahrain’s former World Champion Salwa Eid Naser will start as favourite to win.
Jazeel Murphy and Javari Thomas will contest the men’s 100m and 200m A races, while Ashanie Smith will compete in the B races with Marvin Williams set to contest the men’s 400m hurdles.
Tissanna Hickling is down to compete in the women’s long jump where she will go up against Chantel Malone of the British Virgin Islands, Anthaya Charlton of the Bahamas and Aniella Delafosse of the Ivory Coast.
Three Jamaicans, Lushane Wilson, Raymond Richards and Christoffe Bryan, are set to contest the men’s high jump, pitting their skills against Thiago Souza Alfaro of Brazil, Bahamian Jamal Wilson and Luis Castro of Puerto Rico.
Lloydricia Cameron will be in the women’s shot put event going up against Americans Raven Saunders and Jessica Ramsey as well as Trinidad’s Portious Warren.
-Paul A Reid
