Veteran Coach Maurice Wilson says he believes all five Jamaican relay teams will book places to the 2025 World Athletics Championships through their performances at this weekend’s World Relays.

The relay championship is to be held in Guangzhou, China, from Saturday to Sunday.

Wilson, who has led Jamaica’s technical team to several major international championships, said the country, led by two powerful sprint relay squads, could secure qualification in Saturday’s first round of competition.

“I think we have athletes who would be aware of what is on the table. I think we have supportive managers and agents, and so I do expect our teams to do very well to get the teams qualified,” Wilson told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday.

“I also think it is critically important that we try to qualify the team early. So I know that our our nation is about results in terms of 1-2-3 podium finishes, but what we need is to qualify the team, and I think that the coaching staff will be very strategic, and they will go after qualifying from the first round.”

In addition to taking part in the first-ever Mixed 4x100m, the Jamaicans are also down to compete in the 4x100m and 4x400m for men and women, as well as the Mixed 4x400m relays.

The top two teams in each heat in the three relays in Saturday’s first round will book their places in the World Championships to be held in September in Tokyo, Japan. Those teams will also earn spots in the finals on Sunday when cash prizes will be on offer.

A second round of action will offer the top two in each of the three heats places in Tokyo as well.

At last year’s World Relays in The Bahamas, the Jamaicans did well enough in four of the five relays to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

“I think the teams stand a better chance of qualifying early this year in these championships, simply because I’d want to think that more coaches and managers would be aware in comparison to last year. So I think our chances are relatively good,” he reasoned.

Wilson thinks the shorter relays, featuring a number of high-quality sprinters, will be Jamaica’s best bet to qualify from the first round.

“We have at least three to four seasoned campaigners in Julian Forte, Rohan Watson and Yohan Blake,” he said. “We’re missing Akeem Blake. But I still think that with Kishane Thompson there, these guys would make a very good quartet, and others who are there to support — Bryan Levell has been doing well since the start of the season — so I think on the male side, we’re looking good in the 4x100m relay.

“On the female side, with our most experienced and seasoned campaigner there, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who would have been a part of numerous 4x100m victories for Jamaica, she will lead the charge, of course. And with her is a very experienced athlete that has delivered for Jamaica and numerous occasion, Shericka Jackson, and of course, you have the two young Clayton twins [Tia and Tina]. I think that those two teams are going to do very well.”

Jamaica’s 4x400m men failed to qualify for the Olympic Games last year, causing embarrassment and severe disappointment among local track administrators, athletes, coaches and fans, but Wilson tips them to progress this time.

“With Rusheen McDonald and in-form Zandrion Barnes leading the team, I think they should do well,” he said.

“We have a better 4x400m male team on paper, and when I say better [I mean] better in terms of attitude. I think the young men really want to run, and I think that they’re going to go out there and represent.

“There’s one young man that is there that I’m looking forward to seeing and it’s Tyrese Rhoden. He showed a lot of heart, venom and great attitude to run for his country during the World Indoor Championships,” the experienced coach said.

While he also thinks the Mixed 4x400m relay team should have no issue booking a ticket, Wilson said if there is one team that could face a challenge, it would be the women’s 4x400m relays.

But he said in Coach Paul Francis they have one of the best tacticians available.

“I think where we may have a challenge is the women’s 4x400m, but of course, we also have experienced coaches there as well. Paul Francis has done it numerous times, where when we’re in a spot of bother we have asked him to go to the drawing table and to come up with something special, and I think it is possible once the athletes are healthy and ready to go.”

Jamaica’s Jehlani Gordon (left) hands the baton to Kishane Thompson in the men’s 4x100m heat during the Olympic Games at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on August 8, 2024. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)