Tough weekend for inexperienced Jamaican squad at World Relays

JAMAICA, WITH a very inexperienced squad, found the going tough at the two-day World Athletics Relays last weekend in Nassau, Bahamas.

The men’s 4x100 metres were the only ones to reach the final of their event as the United States dominated the meet with four wins.

Bryan Levell, Kadrian Goldson, Ryiem Forde, and Sandrey Davison finished seventh in the final on Sunday in 38.88 seconds. On Saturday’s opening day, they were second in their heat in 38.50 and qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris. The Americans won the final in a world-leading 37.40, ahead of Canada second, in 37.80, and France, who were third in 38.44.

All the other Jamaican teams needed a second attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games after failing to finish in the top two in the heats of their events.

The women’s 4x100m quartet of Jodean Williams, Tia Clayton, Alana Reid, and Remona Burchell had to settle for fifth in their opening heat in 43.33 but went on to win their second -round heat in 42.74 to book a spot at the Olympic Games.

The United States, with two members of their victorious team from last year’s Budapest World Championships, Tamari Davis and Gabrielle Thomas, clocked a zippy 41.85 to win the final in a championship record.

Jamaica’s mixed 4x400m quartet of Roshawn Clarke, Leah Anderson, Rusheen McDonald, and Janieve Russell was third in their opening heat of the event in 3:14.83. In round two the following day, they ended second in their heat in 3:14. 49 and qualified for the Olympics. Zandrion Barnes replaced McDonald for the second round. Hosts Bahamas won the second-round heat in a national record 3:12.81.

The United States showed their class once again as they won the mixed 4x400m final in a championship record 3:10.73.

After a third -place finish in the women’s 4x400m on Saturday the quartet of Charokee Young, Ashley Williams, Junelle Bromfield, and Roneisha McGregor won their second-round heat in 3:28.54 to also book a place in the Olympics. The United States, with Thomas doing double duty, won the final in a world-leading 3:21.70.

The island’s men’s 4x400m quartet failed to book an automatic berth to the Olympics after their two attempts. In their heat on Saturday, the quartet of Malik James King, Zandrion Barnes, Assinie Wilson, and Demish Gaye placed third in 3:02.46.

McDonald replaced Barnes on Sunday in their second attempt but could only manage fifth in their heat in 3:05.09. The heat was won by Spain in 3:02.39. Botswana, who were disqualified in the event in Budapest last year, posted a world-leading 2:59.11 to win the final.

With 14 of 16 teams booking automatic spots in the 4x400m to the Olympic Games, the Jamaica team will now have to wait to see if they will be able to grab one of the last two spots. The teams for these two spots will be decided based on performances between December 31, 2022 and June 30, 2024.

Following the two-day meet, 70 countries have booked automatic spots in the relays for Paris. The United States and Great Britain have advanced automatically to all five relays at the Olympic Games.

Jamaica is among five other countries that have gained four automatic relay qualifications to the Games. The others are France, Germany, Italy, Nigeria, and Poland.