Jamaica’s Olympians Set to Take to the Track

The games of the 33rd Olympiad in Paris kicks into gear for Jamaica on Friday with the start of track and field action at the Stade de France.

Eight Jamaicans will be in individual events while the country runs out of lane two in the first heat of the mixed 4x400m relay.

National champion Lamar Distin will be the first in action, she goes in the qualiers of the Women’s Long Jump at 3:15 am Jamaica time.

At 4:50 am it will be time for the heats of the Women’s 100m with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shashalee Forbes and Tia Clayton.

At 11:15 am Ackelia Smith, Kimberley Williams and Shanieka Ricketts will report for the start qualifying in the Women’s Triple Jump.

Samantha Hall, the lone Jamaican in the Women’s Discus will bow into action in the qualifiers at 11:55 am.

The quartet of Zandrion Barnes, Andrennette Knight, Reheem Hayles and Ashley Williams will begin Jamaica’s quest for a medal in the mixed 4x400m relay.

The Jamaica team will run in the first heat at 12:10 pm and goes in with the seventh best time on 3:14.49 seconds.

The United States, Kenya, Bahamas, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland and France are the other countries in Jamaica’s heat.

At 12:45 pm Natoya Goule-Topin and Adele Tracey will contest the first round of the Women’s 800m.

Tracey is down for heat 4 while Goule-Toppin is scheduled for the sixth and final heat.

The last Jamaican in action on the day will be national record holder Rajindra Campbell in the Men’s Shot Put at 1:10 pm.

Josh Kirlew also bows into action on Friday in heats of the Men’s 100m Butterfly at 3 am Jamaica time.

The other Jamaican swimmer at the games Sabrina Lyn starts her campaign on Saturday in the Women’s 50 m Free.