Garth Gayle, president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), has pledged his administration’s support for the country’s athletes who may find it very difficult to attain the new qualification standards for next year’s Olympic Games which will be held in Paris.

“Faster, Higher, Stronger — Together” is the Olympic Games’ official motto as stronger throws will now be required for qualification for athletics at the Paris Games, but it could make it even more difficult for less traditional athletics nations to compete.

These new standards are the toughest ever set by World Athletics, the sport’s global governing body, whose aim is to have 50 per cent of entrants qualifying by these standards, while the others who fall short can seek eligibility through the world ranking system.

Gayle told the Jamaica Observer that his organisation is well aware of these new standards; therefore, they will be making every attempt to ensure that the Jamaican athletes and their coaches are fully equipped to deal with any challenges that they might face in achieving these new qualification marks.

“We have always worked with the World Athletics body and their technical teams would have sat and made these recommendations and we are aware of it way ahead of time,” said Gayle.

“It sets the bar high and it, therefore, requires our athletes, coaches and management team to work [harder in] ensuring that our numbers remain high and that our athletes now know what they have to work at.

“I am confident that the events to which we have traditionally performed, qualified and have done well in will continue. Our athletes will raise the bar and will beat those standards ensuring that the Jamaica flag is continually raised,” he added.

The JAAA boss said his association is currently operating with a very tight budget, but will be more than ready to assist if they are called upon to assist an athlete to attain the new standards, especially with the longer distance races.

“We look to our athletes through their management teams and coaches in ensuring that their preparations go smoothly, and from the JAAA’s standpoint we are committed to ensuring that we put as much events in place so that they can qualify and [have] the opportunity to achieve these standards,” Gayle said. “Our budget is a very tight one, but we have always assisted young and upcoming athletes, and so we will continue to do so,” he went on.

The Paris Games start on July 26, 2024, but athletics takes place August 1-11, 2024.

Men’s standards

Event 2020 Olympics 2023

Worlds 2024 Olympics

100m 10.05 10.00 10.00

200m 20.24 20.16 20.16

400m 44.90 45.00 45.00

800m 1:45.20 1:44.70 1:44.70

1500m 3:35.00 3:34.20 (3:51.00)

3:33.50 (3:50.40)

5000m 13:13.50 13:07.00 (13:07

road) 13:05.00

10,000m 27:28.00 27:10.00 (27:10

road) 27:00.00

Marathon 2:11:30 2:09:40 2:08:10

3000m SC 8:22.00 8:15.00 8:15.00

110m h 13.32 13.28 13.27

400m h 48.90 48.70 48.70

High jump 2.33m 2.32m 2.33m

Pole vault 5.80m 5.81m 5.82m

Long jump 8.22m 8.25m 8.27m

Triple jump 17.14m 17.20m

17.22m

Shot put 21.10m 21.40m 21.50m

Discus 66.00m 67.00m 67.20m

Hammer 77.50m 78.00m 78.20m

Javelin 85.00m 85.20m 85.50m

Decathlon 8350 pts 8460 pts 8460

pts

20k race walk 1:21:00 1:20:10

1:20:10

Women’s standards

Event 2020 Olympics 2023 Worlds

2024 Olympics

100 11.15 11.08 11.07

200 22.80 22.60 22.57

400 51.35 51.00 50.95

800 1:59.50 1:59.80 1:59.30

1500 (Mile) 4:04.20 4:03.50 (4:22.00)

4:02.50 (4:20.90)

5k 15:10.00 14:57.00 (14:57 road)

14:52.00

10k 31:25.00 30:40.00 (30:40 road)

30:40.00

Marathon 2:29:30 2:28:00 2:26:50

3k SC 9:30.00 9:23.00 9:23.00

100m h 12.84 12.78 12.77

400m h 55.40 54.90 54.85

High jump 1.96m 1.97m 1.97m

Pole vault 4.70m 4.71m 4.73m

Long jump 6.82m 6.85m 6.86m

Triple jump 14.32m 14.52m 14.55m

Shot put 18.50m 18.80m 18.80m

Discus 63.50m 64.20m 64.50m

Hammer 72.50m 73.60m 74.00m

Javelin 64.00m 63.80m 64.00m

Heptathlon 6420 pts 6480 pts 6480

pts

20k race walk 1:31:00 1:29:20

1:29:20