Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
Medical exemption saves Bolt
Usain Bolt in action on Friday evening.<strong> (Bryan Cummings)</strong>
Athletics, Olympics 2012, Regional, Sports, Western
PAUL A REID Observer writer  
July 5, 2016

Medical exemption saves Bolt

Sporting Edge

Global sprinting superstar Usain Bolt will be named to the Jamaican team to the Rio Olympics at this evening’s meeting of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s (JAAA) Selection Committee in both the 100m and 200m events.

Let’s just get that out of the way at the very start.

The medical exemption rule in the JAAA selection criteria is a smart thing and a safeguard built into the system to protect against the very same thing we saw happening with Bolt last Friday when he had to pull out of the championships with an injury that should be cleared up within two weeks.

Who cares what the Americans think? Their opinions don’t count towards anything. Mike Rodgers should concentrate on his race and leave Bolt’s and Jamaica’s business alone. Stay in your lane, Mike, literally and figuratively.

But I would still love to be a fly on the wall and hear the deliberations for several other athletes, and while I don’t think there will be any major omissions, there could be surprise inclusions.

It just would not be Jamaican track and field if there were no drama involved.

I expect two top hurdlers who got medical exemptions — Hansle Parchment in the men’s 110m and Janieve Russell in the women’s 400m hurdles — to be included, and I would not be surprised if World Champion Danielle Williams and multiple Diamond League champion Kaliese Spencer were also named.

The rule allows for four athletes to be submitted for each event, but only three can enter. Providing that they meet the qualifying performance and prove their fitness, their names will be submitted at the technical meeting usually held a few days before the start of competition.

I expect there will be some fireworks and the JAAA selection policies and medical exemption rules will be called into question with at least three instances at last weekend’s National Senior Championships where athletes finished in ‘qualifying positions’ but could miss out.

Spencer, for example, was third in the women’s 400m hurdles, behind Ristananna Tracey and Leah Nugent, but which one of the three will be omitted to allow Russell — the best female intermediate hurdler this year — to be selected if she recovers from her quad injury in time and proves her fitness?

It is expected that Jevaughn Minzie, who lowered his personal best three times on his way to taking third in the men’s 100m, will step aside without fuss to allow Racers training partner Bolt to take his rightful place in the 100m. Will Julian Forte, who was third in the 200m, be as magnanimous to Bolt’s pursuit of the triple-triple- three gold medals in three straight Olympic Games?

Technical Leader Maurice Wilson and his staff will have a massive task on their hands, but I suspect by the time August 5 rolls around and the Games start, all this will be a distant memory as the medal hunt gets underway in Brazil.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

WATCH: Waves of excitement at Old Harbour Bay Regatta on Emancipation Day
Latest News, News
WATCH: Waves of excitement at Old Harbour Bay Regatta on Emancipation Day
August 3, 2026
Sutania Beckford beamed with joy after her boat crew guided ‘Empress’ to a thrilling victory in the Yamaha Engine Race which brought an exciting close...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cop found dead at May Pen police station
Latest News, News
Cop found dead at May Pen police station
August 3, 2026
CLARENDON, Jamaica — A police constable assigned to the transport department at the Clarendon Division was found dead with a wound to the neck inside ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Weather disrupts Cuba’s power restoration after latest nationwide blackout
International News, Latest News, Regional
Weather disrupts Cuba’s power restoration after latest nationwide blackout
August 3, 2026
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Cuba on Monday began gradually restoring power after suffering another nationwide blackout, the sixth since the year began, thoug...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Haitian group condemns ‘discriminatory impact’ of US visa bond policy on Caribbean immigrants
International News, Latest News, Regional
Haitian group condemns ‘discriminatory impact’ of US visa bond policy on Caribbean immigrants
August 3, 2026
SAN DIEGO, United States (CMC) – The California-based Haitian Bridge Alliance (HBA) has strongly condemned the expansion of the United States (US) Vis...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Shafique, Babar lead strong Pakistan reply against West Indies
Latest News, Sports
Shafique, Babar lead strong Pakistan reply against West Indies
August 3, 2026
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (AFP) — Abdullah Shafique struck his sixth Test century, and Babar Azam closed in on a hundred as Pakistan reached ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Holness lauds farmers for embracing technology and research
Latest News
Holness lauds farmers for embracing technology and research
Dana Malcolm | Observer Online Reporter | Malcolmd@jamaicaobserver.com 
August 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica —  Prime Minister Andrew Holness has hailed the resilience of Jamaica’s farmers, commending their increasing adoption of technology ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Comfort Hall to Walespond roadway receives SPARK upgrade
Latest News, News
Comfort Hall to Walespond roadway receives SPARK upgrade
August 3, 2026
ST JAMES, Jamaica — A $56 million road rehabilitation project is now underway along a  section of the Comfort Hall to Walespond roadway, in southern S...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Venus and Serena to contest Cincinnati Masters doubles after wild card
Latest News, Sports
Venus and Serena to contest Cincinnati Masters doubles after wild card
August 3, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Serena and Venus Williams will resume their doubles partnership on a wild card entry at this month's Cincinnati Mast...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct