THE Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) yesterday confirmed that last year's fastest woman Sherone Simpson and her MVP Track Club mate hurdler Brigitte Foster-Hylton will not represent the country at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan, from August 25-September 2.

The national association had left the athletes out of the 46-member team, but said it would wait until yesterday in accordance with IAAF rules to make a decision regarding Simpson and the 2005 World Championships 100m hurdles bronze medallist Foster-Hylton, who did not compete at the June National Championships due to injury.

Sherone Simpson (left), and Brigitte Foster-Hylton will not represent Jamaica at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan, from August 25 to September 2, because they failed to prove world ranking form up to yesterday.

"In keeping with our selection policy, our world-ranked athletes who did not compete at our National Championships were given up to this date (August 13) to prove their world ranking form. (Brigitte) Foster-Hylton and (Sherone) Simpson have not been able to demonstrate such form and, therefore, have not been included in the final submission of entries," an official JAAA release stated.

Simpson suffered a hip injury earlier this season and recorded substandard performances in subsequent attempts to prove her fitness, clocking 11.75secs for eighth at the Herculis Super Grand Prix in Monaco on July 25 and 11.61secs also for eighth at the DN Galan IAAF Super Grand Prix meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, two weeks later on August 7.

World Number Three-ranked Foster-Hylton has not competed since victory at the May 5 Jamaica International Invitational Meet.
However, Foster-Hylton's agent, Paul Doyle, in an interview with the Observer last week expressed confidence that she would recover in time for Osaka.
"We're very optimistic for Brigitte. She's actually doing quite well, she went back to Munich (Germany) for some final treatment (over the next few days) before she puts on the spikes and goes full speed in training," he said.

Meanwhile, MVP president, Bruce James, speaking on the KLAS Sports Radio yesterday, said based on Foster-Hylton's world ranking and having attained the IAAF qualifying 'A' standard 12.90secs it would have been a strategic decision to include the athlete in the national team.
"Brigitte Foster-Hylton is someone who should be given the opportunity to represent the country... two of the 53 medals Jamaica has won at the World Championships were earned by Brigitte," he said.
Foster won the silver medal at the 2003 WC in Paris, France, and bronze in Helsinki, Finland, two years later.

At the National Championships, fourth-place finisher Lacena Golding-Clarke with a time of 13.16, who also has the qualifying standard, has been included in the team. So, too, winner and Helsinki silver medallist, Delloreen Ennis-London (12.62) and second-place finisher Vonette Dixon (12.80).

Monique Morgan finished third at the trials in 13.11secs, but failed to attain the qualifying 'A' standard.
Meanwhile, James, yesterday confirmed that despite the fact that Simpson and Foster-Hylton were not selected to the team, both were on their way to Japan with the other members of the MVP group.

Local officials and athletes, headed by Ludlow Watts, left the island last Thursday for Tottori, Japan, for a pre-worlds camp from August 11-20.
Jamaica finished ninth in the medal table at the 2005 World Championships with eight medals, including one gold, five silver, and two bronze.

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