#NationalTrials: Gayle earns Olympic spot after Thompson’s jump ruled a foul
KINGSTON, Jamaica — World Championships gold medallist Tajay Gayle has been awarded third place in the men’s long jump that was held Saturday at the JAAA Nationals Championships after Shawn-D Thompson’s final round jump of 8:30m was confirmed to be a foul.
Gayle, who had a best mark of 8.18m (0.6m/s), will join winner Carey McLeod- 8.38m (0.1m/s) and Wayne Pinnock- 8.27m (1.1m/s) as the Jamaicans to contest the event at the Paris Olympics later this year.
This was the same three men who had competed at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary where Pinnock was second, Gayle third and McLeod fourth.
On Saturday, Thompson appeared to have passed Gayle for the third spot with what would have been his personal best and a mark over the Olympic standard 8.27m.
The jump was ruled a foul but Thompson’s team launched an unsuccessful protest.
-Paul A Reid
