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FOR THE first time since the 2012 World Indoor Championships, Jamaica will not field a team in the women’s 4x400m relays according to the list of athletes selected for this year’s event from March 21-23 in Nanjing, China.
A contingent of 24 athletes and nine officials are set to make the trip to the championships next week, according to a press release from the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).
However, notably absent from the list is a relay pool for the women’s 4x400 metres with Leah Anderson and Joanne Reid only named for the women’s individual 400.
Janieve Russell has also been named as a reserve for the individual event.
This marks the first time Jamaica will not be lining up in the contest since 2012 as the nation had been represented for the past five editions of the international tournament.
The absence represents a worrying trend of Jamaica’s troubles in the 4x400m relays after the men’s team had failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics last year.
A source from the JAAA, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the reason for the absence of a relay team was due to athletes’ unavailability ahead of the championships.
Last year at the Oaris Olympics, Jamaica suffered bitter disappointment in the women’s 4x400m relays.
Coming into the third leg well placed for a podium, the quartet of Lanae-Tava Thomas, Andrenette Knight, Charokee Young, and Stacey-Ann Williams did not finish after bump resulted in a dropped baton.
There are high expectations in the field this year for the Jamaicans though with several of Jamaica’s top athletes down to compete.
Former men’s long jump world champion Tajay Gayle will enter the competition in medal contending form. He sits second in the world rankings this year with his mark of 8.34 metres, done at the Gibson McCook relays, only bettered by Italy’s Mattia Furlani, 8.37.
Gayle will be joined by Olympic long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock, who has yet to open his 2025 season but is expected to challenge for a podium spot and improve on his fourth- place finish from the World Indoors last year.
Rajindra Campbell, Jamaica’s first-ever men’s shot put Olympic bronze medallist, will also take to the ring.
On the track, women’s 100m hurdles national record holder Ackera Nugent is set to headline Jamaica’s contingent in her World Indoors debut.
The speedster has seen a good start to her season as she clocked a season’s best 7.75 seconds last month.
Jodean Williams and Natasha Morrison will line up in the women’s 60m, while Rohan Watson and Nishion Ebanks are set to complete the lineup in the men’s equivalent.
WORLD INDOOR TEAM
Women
Jodean Williams, Natasha Morrison, Ackera Nugent, Amoi Brown, Leah Anderson, Joanne Reid, Lloydricia Cameron, Janieve Russell (reserve)
Men
Rohan Watson, Nishion Ebanks, Jerome Campbell, Demario Prince, Rusheen McDonald, Jasuana Dennis, Demar Francis, Tarees Rhoden, Kimar Farquharson, Romaine Beckford, Raymond Richards, Tajay Gayle, Wayne Pinnock, Jordan Scott, Rajindra Campbell, Travis Williams (reserve)
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