FIRST vice-president of Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Ian Forbes believes that the absence of some of the country’s top quarter-milers was the key reason Jamaica failed to qualify for the men’s 4x400m relay at the Olympic Games in Paris.

This marks only the second time since 1948 that Jamaica has missed out on qualifying for the event, in spite of a specially organised relay on the final day of the JAAA/Puma National Senior Championships at the National Stadium.

Three Jamaican teams, alongside a team from St Vincent and the Grenadines, competed in Sunday’s race, aiming to beat Zambia’s qualifying time of 2:59.12. But, despite their efforts, the fastest Jamaican team clocked 2:59.87, falling short of the mark.

Forbes expressed disappointment at the missed opportunity while praising the effort of the athletes who tried to qualify.

“From a personal standpoint I am very disappointed and distressed that we failed to qualify, after coming so close,” said Forbes. “I must commend the young men who tried gallantly to qualify us, but just fell short of the mark.”

Forbes acknowledged that key athletes withdrew from the event due to various reasons, which impacted Jamaica’s chances.

“It is unfortunate that some initially expected athletes withdrew for different reasons,” he explained. “If even one of them had participated we would likely have qualified.”

Deandre Watkin, the national champion, and JeVaughn Powell, who finished third in the 400m final, withdrew due to injuries. Sean Bailey, second in the 400m final, also withdrew on Sunday due to injury. All three are among Jamaica’s fastest 400m runners this season, with times under 45 seconds.

Jamaica had previously attempted to qualify for the 4x400m relay at the World Athletics Relays in Nassau, and at the NACAC New Life Invitational in The Bahamas, but fell short. Forbes pointed out that despite efforts to communicate with coaches and managers, challenges persisted with late withdrawals.

“I don’t know where we may have gone wrong,” Forbes reflected. “Persons would have spoken about not communicating that the World Relays was a qualifier, but that would have been communicated earlier. But, despite that, we selected a squad and we went to The Bahamas and we had withdrawals — some very late in the process — and this has been happening since then in terms of late withdrawals.”

“This would have caused the coaches a lot of headaches with respect to fielding the final team.”

Minister of Sports Olivia “Babsy” Grange, who was present at the national srnior championships on Sunday, expressed disappointment at the outcome but remains optimistic that the country’s athletes will do well at the Olympic Games.

“I have to admit that I am disappointed, but every disappointment in life has a reason,” Grange said. “But as Jamaicans we are champions, we are positive people, and we never give up, and so I want to say to the athletes who run the 4x400m relays event that we appreciate their efforts because they made a good try.”