The Jamaican athletes about to leave for the World Championships of Bejing are 53. To lead the group it will be none but the World record-holder on 100m and 200m, Usain Bolt. The sprinter, despite the few races run this year, presents himself with a 9”87 achieved in the heat during the Diamond League stage in London and later repeated in the final, and from the 20”13 of the Golden Spike in Ostrava. The Jamaican will have to be aware of the American Justin Gatlin for the most awaited challenge of the Championships without forgetting about his compatriot Asafa Powell, who ran 9”81 this year, and, for what regards the 200m, of the Silver medal of Moscow, Warren Weir.
High-level velocity among women as well: the defending champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price, will attempt another 100-200 double along with Veronica Campbell-Brown. Clearly, they will create fast quartets for all the relays, with particular ambitions for the 4×100, where the challenge against Usa teams is usually very heated.
110hs promise interesting races, with a huge number of athletes ready to compete for a medal. Among them, Omar McLeod who, with 12”97 occupies the second place of the seasonal ranking.
Further important names of the Jamaican team are the disc-thrower Jason Morgan, the 400m runner Novlene Williams-Mils, the hurdler Kaliese Spencer and the triple jumper Kimberly Williams.
MEN
100m: Nickel Ashmeade, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell
200m: Nickel Ashmeade, Usain Bolt, Rasheed Dwyer, Julian Forte, Warren Weir
400m: Javon Francis, Peter Matthews, Rusheen McDonald, Edino Steele
5000m: Kemoy Campbell
110hs: Omar McLeod, Hansle Parchment, Andrew Riley
400hs: Roxroy Cato, Leford Green, Annsert Whyte
Lungo: Damar Forbes
Peso: O’Dayne Richards
Disco: Fedrick Dacres, Jason Morgan, Chad Wright
4x100m: Nickel Ashmeade, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Usain Bolt, Nesta Carter, Asafa Powell, Tyquendo Tracey
4x400m: Javon Francis, Dane Hyatt, Peter Matthews, Jonia McDonald, Rusheen McDonald, Edino Steele
WOMEN
100m: Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Natasha Morrison, Sherone Simpson
200m: Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Sherone Simpson, Elaine Thompson
400m: Christine Day, Shericka Jackson, Stephenie Ann McPherson, Novlene Williams-Mills
800m: Simoya Campbell, Natoya Goule
1500m: Aisha Praught
3000m siepi: Aisha Praught
100hs: Kimberly Laing, Danielle Williams, Shermaine Williams
400hs: Janieve Russell, Kaliese Spencer, Shevon Stoddart, Ristananna Tracey
Triplo: Shanieka Thomas, Kimberly Williams
Peso: Danniel Thomas
Heptathlon: Salcia Slack
4x100m: Veronica Campbell-Brown, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Natasha Morrison, Sherone Simpson, Kerron Stewart, Elaine Thompson
4x400m: Christine Day, Chrisann Gordon, Shericka Jackson, Anastasia Le-Roy, Stephenie Ann McPherson, Novlene Williams-Mills
Photo: Denis Roulet