Jamaica will not field a women’s 4x400m team for the first time since 2012 at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. Despite the absence of the relay team, a strong contingent of 24 athletes is set to compete, including Tajay Gayle and Ackera Nugent, among others. Reasons for the absence include athlete unavailability, reflecting ongoing issues in the relay events.
For the first time since the 2012 World Indoor Championships, Jamaica will not participate in the women’s 4x400m relay at this year’s event, which is scheduled from March 21-23 in Nanjing, China. The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) announced the selection of 24 athletes and nine officials for the championships, yet the women’s relay team is notably missing. Only Leah Anderson and Joanne Reid have been named for individual 400m races, with Janieve Russell listed as a reserve.
This absence represents a significant shift, as Jamaica had consistently fielded a team in the women’s 4x400m for the past five tournaments. Concerns are mounting regarding the nation’s performance in this category, particularly following the men’s team’s failure to qualify for the upcoming Paris Olympics. A representative from the JAAA, who chose to remain unnamed, cited unavailability of athletes as the reason for the lack of a relay team.
Jamaica faced disappointment in the women’s 4x400m relay at the previous Olympic games due to a mishap that resulted in a dropped baton during a promising third leg. Despite this setback, expectations remain high for Jamaican competitors this year, with several elite athletes set to compete. Notably, Tajay Gayle, a former world champion in long jump, is ranked second worldwide, with a season mark of 8.34 meters, trailing only Italy’s Mattia Furlani.
Additionally, Olympic silver medallist Wayne Pinnock is anticipated to show strong performance in his season opener, aiming to better last year’s fourth-place finish at the World Indoors. Rajindra Campbell, Jamaica’s first-ever men’s shot put Olympic bronze medallist, will also compete. Ackera Nugent, the women’s 100m hurdles national record holder, is poised to make her World Indoors debut and has already recorded a season’s best of 7.75 seconds. Other athletes competing include Jodean Williams and Natasha Morrison in the women’s 60m and Rohan Watson and Nishion Ebanks in the men’s 60m.
In conclusion, Jamaica’s absence from the women’s 4x400m relay at the upcoming World Indoor Championships marks a significant shift in their athletics participation. Unavailability of athletes has led to this decision, echoing previous disappointments, including a poor outcome at last year’s Olympics. However, the country still boasts strong competitors across various events, and expectations remain high for their performances in Nanjing.
Original Source: jamaica-gleaner.com
