JAAA vice-president expresses confidence in World Relay squad

WITH the World Athletics Relay Championships set for next month in China, Ian Forbes, first vice-president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), is optimistic about the nation’s chances — particularly in the men’s 4x400m — to secure qualification to the 2025 World Championships.

The relay championships are to be held in Guangzhou, China, from May 10-11.

The championships will hold extra significance for the country’s men’s 4x400m relay team following last year’s disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. It marked just the second time since 1948 that Jamaica had failed to qualify for the men’s 4x400m relay at the Olympic Games.

The World Championships is scheduled to be held from September 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan.

Forbes is confident that the team selected will rise to the occasion.

“We have selected a very competent team for next month’s championships and I am confident that they, along with our other relay teams, will put on an excellent showing. The 4x400m is looking quite decent but, as you know, they have to deliver on the day. We are pretty confident that they will do well and ensure qualification for the championships,” he said

The JAAA vice-president emphasised that the World Relays are critical not only for World Championships qualification but also for earning vital world ranking points.

“This championships will be used extensively for qualification purposes so it is best to approach it from all angles and try to secure spots at the World Relays. While competing the athletes also have a chance to gain good ranking points, which will be important later,” Forbes said.

In assembling the team he noted that the selection process was based on several factors.

“The team was picked based on availability, performance, rankings, and willingness to compete. There are no trials for this particular meet so those aspects were crucial in the decision-making,” he said.

The Jamaican team is to be led by five-time 100m World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, World and Olympic champion Shericka Jackson, as well as Olympic Games men’s 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson.

The Jamaicans will participate in five events over two days, both 4x100m and 4x400m races as well as the mixed. The men’s 4x400m relay team consists of Rusheen McDonald, Zandrion Barnes, Malik James-King, and Tarees Rhoden.

Forbes pointed to the quality within the squad, highlighting a healthy mix of experienced runners and new talents eager to make their mark.

“I think it is a fairly well-balanced team. It has experience and there are some newer members coming in as well. Overall, I believe it’s quite a decent team and I am expecting high-quality performances from them.

“It’s one of the major qualifiers for the World Outdoor Championships so it’s best to get ahead early. Time is fast approaching to ensure that we qualify all teams. As you know, we had some hiccups with that last year so we are hopeful that this year things will go much smoother. We are expecting good performances all around,” Forbes underscored.

— Robert Bailey

TEAM JAMAICA

Men — Ackeem Blake, Yohan Blake, Julian Forte, Rasheed Foster, Bryan Levell, Javari Thomas, Kishane Thompson, Rohan Watson, Zandrion Barnes, Javier Brown, Demar Francis, Malik James-King, Delano Kennedy, Rusheen McDonald and Tarees Rhoden

Women — Niesha Burgher, Tia Clayton, Tina Clayton, Serena Cole, Shericka Jackson, Natasha Morrison, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Alana Reid, Krystal Sloley, Shana Kaye Anderson, Kelly-Ann Beckford, Roneisha McGregor, Shiann Salmon, Ronda Whyte, Jodean Williams and Stacey-Ann Williams