JAAA makes changes to NACAC team

THERE HAVE been a few changes to the Jamaica team which will leave the island tomorrow to compete at the Regional North America, Central America and the Caribbean (NACAC) Senior Track and Field Championships to be held in Freeport, Bahamas, from August 15-17.

There are three changes in individual events among the women, with Jonelle Smith replacing Tia Clayton in the women’s 100 metres. Clayton is down to compete at this Saturday’s Wanda Diamond League meet in Silesia.

Ashanti Moore and Kerrica Hill have both been replaced in their respective events. Moore, who recently qualified for Tokyo after winning the 200 metres in Austria in 22.40 seconds, has been replaced in that event by Roneisha McGregor. Hill has been replaced in the women’s 100-metre hurdles by Yanique Thompson.

In the 4x100m relay, McGregor will replace Clayton, while Briana Williams and Thompson have been added to the pool.

Jamaica will be well represented in both the women’s 4x400m and the mixed 4x400m relay as they seek qualification for the Tokyo World Championships in both events. The women’s 4x400m team will include Nickisha Pryce, Dejanea Oakley, Stacey-Ann Williams, and Leah Anderson.

McGregor and Anderson will also be a part of the mixed relay team, which will include Delano Kennedy and Zadrian Barnes.

There are four individual changes among the men, with Shakar Williams, Kadrian Goldson, Jaheim Stern, and Nikaoli Williams being added. Shakar Williams will replace Rohan Watson in the 100m, Goldson will replace Adrian Kerr in the 200m, Stern will replace Tyler Mason in the 110m hurdles, and Nikaoli will replace Carey McLeod in the long jump.

Shakar Williams and sprint hurdler Demario Prince have been added to the men’s 4x100m relay pool following the withdrawals of Rohan Watson, Adrian Kerr, and Bouwahjuie Nkrumie.

Shaemar Uter and Deandre Watkins are out of the 4x400m relay team, while Tyrice Taylor and Tyrese Grant have been added.

Romaine Beckford has opted out of the high jump and Jordan Scott is out of the triple jump.

Not only will the women’s 4x400m and 4x400m mixed relay teams be seeking to qualify for the World Championships, but several athletes in individual events who finished in the top three at the National Senior Championships will also be targeting qualification.

The list includes Gabrielle Matthews and McGregor, who were second and third in the women’s 200m; Kelly-Ann Beckford, who won the women’s 800m; Christopher Taylor, who was second in the men’s 200m; Rusheen McDonald and Delano Kennedy in the men’s 400m; Tyrice Taylor in the men’s 800m; along with field events athletes Raymond Richards in the men’s high jump, Fedrick Dacres in the men’s discus, Samantha Hall in the women’s discus, Nayoka Clunis in the women’s hammer throw, Nia Robinson in the women’s long jump, and Samantha Hall in the women’s discus.