Despite facing an uphill battle with several of Jamaica’s top athletes yet to attain the automatic qualifying standards for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gayle remains optimistic about the nation’s prospects.
The recently concluded four-day National Championships, staged at the National Stadium in Kingston, laid bare the challenge ahead for the JAAA selection committee. While many athletes finished in podium positions in their respective events, a significant number fell short of the stringent qualifying marks set by World Athletics for the global showpiece set for September 13–21.
Time on Their Side
Speaking in the aftermath of the Championships, Gayle acknowledged the qualification gaps but insisted that the early staging of the Trials offered athletes a vital window to achieve the required standards.
“Having our National Championships early was a good thing as these athletes now have over a month and a half to hit the qualification marks,” Gayle explained to Jamaica Gleaner.
“It is a good opportunity for those athletes not yet attaining the standard not only to earn but to sort themselves out.”
World Athletics’ qualification period runs from August 1, 2024, to August 24, 2025, and with the tougher standards in place for the World Championships compared to the Olympic Games, many will be banking on both performance improvements and their positions in the global rankings to secure a spot on the team.
Key Events Under Scrutiny
Among the standout concerns is the women’s 200 metres. None of the top three finishers met the 22.57 seconds automatic standard. National champion Ashanti Moore clocked 22.66s ahead of Gabrielle Matthews (22.80) and Roneisha McGregor (22.86). Ironically, seventh-place finisher Niesha Burgher remains the only qualifier to date with her 22.39 performance in New Mexico earlier this year.
A similar situation unfolded in the women’s 800 metres, where newly minted national champion Kelly-Ann Beckford’s 2:00.23 finish was outside the 1:59.00 qualifying time. Veteran Natoya Goule-Toppin, though second in 2:00.97, has already hit the mark with a 1:58.43 in China this season.
In the field, Olympian Ackelia Smith missed out on qualifying in both the long jump and triple jump. Her 6.81m season’s best fell short of the 6.86m requirement, while a 14.44m leap in the triple jump left her just shy of the 14.55m mark.
On the men’s side, the sprint and middle-distance events also presented challenges. Only Brian Levell, winner of the men’s 200m in 20.10 seconds, has met the qualifying mark of 20.16 this season. The men’s 400m final saw national record holder Rusheen McDonald narrowly miss qualification by easing up in the final metres, finishing in 44.88, three-hundredths outside the 44.85 standard.
In the men’s 800m, neither winner Tyrice Taylor (1:45.26) nor national record holder Navasky Anderson (1:46.03) reached the 1:44.50 target, although Anderson’s earlier season best of 1:44.61 positions him within striking distance.
Concerns in Field Events
Jamaica’s traditionally strong showing in field events faces uncertainty as several of the country’s top male throwers and jumpers, including Paris Olympic medallists Roje Stona, Wayne Pinnock, Rajindra Campbell, and Tajay Gayle, were absent from the Championships.
Ralford Mullings’ 69.31m discus throw remains the lone automatic qualifying mark for Jamaica’s male throwers. In the long jump, Carey McLeod’s 8.30m season’s best leaves him just behind Gayle’s national-leading 8.34m.
Meanwhile, high jumpers Raymond Richards (2.30m) and Romaine Beckford (2.26m) remain short of the 2.33m standard.
Pathway Through Rankings
With time still on their side, many of these athletes may have to rely on the World Athletics ranking system, which balances performance and placing, to secure Tokyo berths.
Gayle, however, remains steadfast in his belief in the team’s resilience.
“The National Championships highlighted the depth we have,” he said.
“Now it’s about fine-tuning and capitalizing on upcoming opportunities.”
As the qualification window narrows, Jamaican athletes will be looking to overseas meets and remaining domestic events to lock down their places, with the nation’s World Championships campaign hinging on both determination and timely execution.