BIRMINGHAM, England - Sprinter Michael Frater and 400m runner Novlene Williams-Mills have been named team captains for the Jamaican track and field team for the London Olympics following a late evening meeting of the team and managers held at the team’s base at the University of Birmingham today.

Both athletes, who are 30 years old, were chosen based on their leadership ability and ability to relate to teammates, team management, as well as articulate issues on behalf of their teammates, according to the guidelines outlined in a meeting between Jamaican journalists and team management earlier today.

Team leader Donald Quarrie confirmed the appointments with the Jamaica Observer.

Frater, the 2005 World Championships 100m silver medallist and Pan-American Senior Championships gold medallist, is being selected to lead the team for the second consecutive global track and field championships after he was selected at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, last year.

It was not immediately clear if Frater, who will compete in the 4x100m relays here, was at the meeting as he was due to have competed at a meeting in Poland.

Williams-Mills, a two time World Championships finalist, will compete in the 400m as well as the 4x400m at her third Olympic Games and has a season best 49.78 seconds done at the Pre-Fontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. She also won the quarter mile at the JAAA/JN Jamaica International Invitational in May.