World Champ Tajay Gayle races against time
EUGENE, Oregon — Defending men’s long jump champion Tajay Gayle is in a race against time to be fit for the event which will be held on Friday’s opening day of the 18th World Athletics Championships here in Eugene, Oregon.
Gayle, who reaggravated a knee injury while at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Championships at the National Stadium last month, looked uncomfortable as he participated in a short practice session at Lane Community College, just outside of Eugene on Wednesday.
Paul Francis, a member of the Jamaican coaching staff here and also of Gayle’s club MVP, admitted the situation was out of their control and they had to wait and see how the athlete responded to treatment.
“Tajay is actively involved in rehabilitation right now,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
“We are hoping he will be able to go on Friday but we won’t know that right here and now.”
Francis said the decision if Gayle will line up or not would be made as soon as they know it.
“We just have to wait and see,” he said.
Under the watchful eyes of Coach Stephen Francis on Wednesday, Gayle took less than a handful of jumps and grimaced each time he landed before heading off to the massage tables.
Gayle fell badly in the long jump competition at the Jamaica National Championships in June, jarring his right knee. He stayed in the long jump it for a few minutes before limping off and Francis was later quoted as saying he has suffered “a bruised knee”.
The former Papine High student shocked the track and field world at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, winning with a Jamaican national record 8.69m, 10th best all times.
Bothered by a knee injury, he failed to make it to the finals at last year Olympic Games, finishing 11th with a best of 7.69m after he had jump 8.29m and 8.17m twice earlier in the season, in addition to two wind-aided jumps over 8.50m.
— Paul A Reid