Multiple Olympic and World Championships medalists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson were named for Jamaica’s sprint relay team to the World Relays in Guangzhou, China, from May 10 to 11.
The team also includes veteran sprinter Yohan Blake and several young and rising runners such as twin sisters Tia and Tina Clayton, 2024 World indoor 60m bronze medalist Akeen Blake, and Paris Olympic 100m silver medalist Kishane Thompson.
The World Relays is used to qualify for the final 16 teams to contest all relay disciplines at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan in September.
Last year Jamaica’s last-minute assembled male 4×4 team of Reheem Hayles, JeVaughn Powell, Kimar Farquharson, and Tarees Rhoden failed to qualify for the Olympics, a result of administrative (Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/JAAA) communication bungling and the absence of top quarter-milers not competing, leaving the less experienced to step in with guts and patriotism.
Jamaica trailed France and Zambia based on the time they ran in bidding for one of the remaining two spots after the Relays for a place at the line in Paris. They later lost out to both countries when they failed to run faster than France’s 2:58.45, and Zambia’s 2:59.12.
Jamaican fans were grateful to the quartet for their gallant attempts but critical of how the JAAA handled the matter that ended in Jamaica not having a 4x400m relay team at the Olympics for any major championships for the first time since 1960.
This time, however, there are five full squads, a blend of youth and experience that could tell a different story for all six quartets: male and female sprint relays; mixed gender 4x100m relay; male, female 4x400m relay, and mixed gender 4x400m relay.
Veterans and Young Guns
Fraser-Pryce and Jackson are the most experienced in the women’s 4x100m relay pool which is completed by much younger guns Niesha Burger, Tina and Tia Clayton, Serena Cole, Natasha Morrison, Alana Reid and Krystal Sloley.
The women’s mile relay squad is made up of Shana-Kaye Anderson, Kelly-Ann Beckford, Roneisha McGregor, Shian Salmon, Ronda Whyte, Jodean Williams and Stacey-Ann Williams.
Kishane Thompson is joined in the men’s 4x100m pool by Yohan Blake, Ackeem Blake, Rasheed Foster, Bryan Levell, Julian Forte, Javari Thomas, and Rohan Watson.
National 400m record holder Rusheen McDonald is the veteran in the men’s mile relay contingent of Javier Brown, Zandrion Barnes, Demar Francis, Malik James-King, Tarees Rhoden, and Delano Kennedy.