Jamaica will not compete in the women’s 4x400m relay at the World Indoor Championships for the first time since 2012. A total of 24 athletes will participate, with notable absences in the relay pool. However, several top athletes in individual events are set to compete, promising a competitive showing.
The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has announced that Jamaica will not field a women’s 4x400m team at the World Indoor Championships for the first time since 2012. The championships are scheduled to take place from March 21-23 in Nanjing, China. A total of 24 athletes and nine officials will represent Jamaica, but the women’s relay team is absent from the selections.
Leah Anderson and Joanne Reid are designated for the women’s individual 400m event, while Janieve Russell is named as a reserve. This absence signals growing concerns regarding Jamaica’s performance in the 4x400m relays, particularly following the men’s team missing the qualification for the Paris Olympics last year.
An anonymous source from the JAAA cited unavailability of athletes as the reason for the lack of a relay team. In the previous year’s Olympics, Jamaica faced disappointment in the women’s 4x400m, ultimately failing to finish after a dropped baton during the race.
Despite this setback, the team holds promise with several athletes expected to perform exceptionally well. Notably, former men’s long jump world champion Tajay Gayle is ranked second globally with a jump of 8.34 meters this season, trailing Italy’s Mattia Furlani. Olympic long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock aims to improve his past performances at the World Indoors.
Additionally, Rajindra Campbell, who won Jamaica’s first men’s shot put Olympic bronze medal, will compete, while Ackera Nugent, the national record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, makes her World Indoors debut. Nugent has begun her season strongly, recording a personal best of 7.75 seconds. The men’s and women’s 60m events will also feature several Jamaican athletes, ensuring a competitive presence at the championships.
In summary, Jamaica’s absence of a women’s 4x400m relay team at the upcoming World Indoor Championships marks a significant shift since 2012, attributed to athlete unavailability. This lack of participation continues a worrying trend for Jamaica following previous relay disappointments. However, the presence of strong individual competitors across various events offers hope for medal prospects at the championships.
Original Source: jamaica-gleaner.com
