Jamaica names ‘high-powered’ team for World Indoors
The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) yesterday named a strong team to represent Jamaica at next week’s 17th staging of the IAAF World Indoor Championships to be held at the Oregon Convention Centre in Portland, Oregon, March 17-20.
Two individual medallists from last year’s World Championships in Beijing, China — Danielle Williams, who won a shock gold in the women’s 100m hurdles and Elaine Thompson, who took the silver in the women’s 200m — were named on the 24-member team.
Jamaica won five medals at the most recent staging of the championships, in Sopot, Poland, two years ago, including gold in the women’s 60m by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Former men’s 100m world record holder Asafa Powell, the world leader in the men’s 60m with a personal best 6.49 seconds, has been named in the team for a second time.
Powell competed at the World Indoors in Budapest, Hungary in 2004.
Stephenie-Ann McPherson, a two-time World Championships finalist in the 400m, has been named in the team, while sprinter Anneisha McLaughlin makes a return after a couple of years sabbatical from competition.
Salcia Slack will take part in the pentathlon event, while Shanieka Thomas will seek her first major final in the triple jump.
On the men’s side, Omar McLeod is a medal threat in the 60m hurdles where he is ranked number two in the world with a season’s best 7.46 seconds.
Trevor ‘TC’ Campbell will be the team leader with Marvin Anderson and Merlene Hamilton listed as team officials. Dr Jason Strachan is the team physician, Fitzalbert Coleman is the technical leader with Maurice Westney and Mark Elliot the coaches. Alvin Green is the masseur and Morine Dawson the masseuse.
Full team: Men – Asafa Powell, Odean Skeen, Kevaughn Rattray, Ricardo Chambers, Fitzroy Dunkley, Kemoy Campbell, Omar McLeod, Nathon Allen, Dane Hyatt, Demar Murray and Demish Gaye.
Female – Simone Facey, Elaine Thompson, Chrisann Gordon, Patricia Hall, Stephenie Ann McPherson, Natoya Goule, Samantha Scarlett, Danielle Williams, Shanieka Thomas, Salcia Slack, Anneisha McLaughlin, Verone Chambers and Ronda Whyte.
