A lot will be at stake for a number of Jamaican athletes at this weekend’s fifth North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Athletics Championships to be held between Friday and Sunday at the Freeport stadium in Grand Bahama.

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) published a list of 41 athletes on Monday, including a number of athletes replacing others who withdrew for a variety of reasons.

Tia Clayton, Ashanti Moore, Kerrica Hill, Rohan Watson, Adrian Kerr, Tyler Mason, Carey McLeod, Romaine Beckford and Jordan Scott are among the athletes who have been withdrawn from the original list.

With the qualifying window for athletes to achieve the 2025 World Athletics Championships qualifying marks coming to a close on August 24, at least 10 athletes, including national champions, are hoping to get over the line during the NACAC Championships. The qualifying window has been open since August last year.

There are a number of athletes who, while they have not achieved the qualifying marks, are well placed in the World Ranking Quota, a listing of the top athletes in each event.

The quota is assigned to each event at the World Championships, and in case not enough athletes make the qualifying standards, the next best athletes — those whose teams don’t have the full number of three competitors — will be invited to fill out the quotas.

The Jamaican selectors are likely to choose athletes who are ranked high in the quota, unlike other countries such as Great Britain who only select athletes who have the standards.

Meanwhile, all five relay teams for Jamaica are likely to qualify for the World Championships. They are the men’s 4x400m and women’s 4x100m who qualified from the World Relays; the women’s 4x400m (3:24.92 minutes) and mixed 4x400m (3:11.06) both occupy 16th place based on times run at the Olympics Games; and the men’s 4x100m are in 15th place after a world number three ranked 37.80 seconds accomplished at the London Diamond League in July.

With just over a week to go before the qualifying cut-off point, it is unlikely that any team run faster than the Jamaicans and take their spot.

Among the Jamaicans hoping to cement their places in the individual events are national men’s 400m champion Rusheen McDonald; men’s 200m runner-up Christopher Taylor; men’s 800m champion Tyrice Taylor; and women’s 800m champion Kelly-Ann Beckford.

McDonald has a season’s best 44.89, just off the qualifying mark of 44.85 seconds but he is ranked 45th in the quota and has a chance even if he does not reach the standard. However, Christopher Taylor must lower his personal best 20.28 much closer to the 20.16 standard to have any chance.

Tyrice Taylor and Beckford must also lower their lifetime best marks if they are to punch their tickets to the World Championships in Tokyo.

Tyrice Taylor will need to improve on his best of 1:45.23 if he is to at least get into the quota and join national record holder Navasky Anderson who has the qualifying mark.

Beckford, who moved back to Jamaica after completing a successful stint in the NCAA system, needs to run 1:59.00 to qualify for the women’s event. Her personal best of 2:00.23 was set at the national championships in June.

She is ranked behind national record holder Natoya Goule-Toppin, who has secured her place, and Adelle Tracey, who has not run since late July and is also just outside the qualifying time.

Men’s high jumper Raymond Richards, who is down to compete this weekend, is ranked 15th in the World Rankings quota along with Romaine Beckford, who is ranked ninth. National discus throw record holder Fedrick Dacres is ranked 29th.

Shericka Jackson has a bye in the women’s 200m as the defending champion, while the in-form Ashanti Moore has booked her place. Gabrielle Matthews and Roneisha McGregor will hope to get their own spots this weekend.

Women’s shot putter Lloydricia Cameron is also well placed in the World Rankings quota in 26th position and further solidify her standing with an improved performance at the NACAC Championships.

— Paul A Reid

Jamaica team

Men — Ryiem Forde, Shakur Williams, Christopher Taylor, Kadrian Goldson, Rusheen McDonald, Delano Kennedy, Navasky Anderson, Tyrice Taylor, Demario Prince, Jaheim Stern, Assinie Wilson, Malik James-King, Nikaoli Williams, Shawn-D Thompson, Raymond Richards, Fedrick Dacres, Chad Wright, Elvis Graham, Ashani Smith, Zandrion Barnes, Bovel McPherson, Tyrece Grant.

Women — Joneille Smith, Jodean Williams, Roneisha McGregor, Gabrielle Matthews, Dejanae Oakley, Nickiesha Pryce, Kelly-Ann Beckford, Amoi Brown, Yanique Thompson, Janieve Russell, Shanique Walker, Nia Robinson, Samantha Hall, Lloydricia Cameron, Nayoka Clunis, Shanieka Ricketts, Briana Williams, Leah Anderson, Shaquena Foote