The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has officially announced its relay squads for the inaugural Barbados Grand Prix, a crucial qualifying meet ahead of the World Athletics Championships.
The event, set for Friday, July 5, at the Usain Bolt Stadium in Barbados, presents a final opportunity for Jamaican teams to secure their spots at the global showpiece.
After missing automatic qualification at the World Relays earlier this year, the JAAA is sending three relay teams to the Caribbean meet in a bid to meet the qualification standards before the deadline.
Leading the charge will be the women’s 4×100-metre team featuring Jodean Williams, Krystal Sloley, Jonielle Smith, and Serena Cole — a mix of seasoned campaigners and promising young sprinters looking to deliver a fast enough time to book their ticket to the World Championships.
The men’s 4×100-metre squad will include Kadrian Goldson, Adrian Kerr, Bouwahgie Nkrumie, and Odain McPherson, all of whom have shown encouraging form this season. The quartet will be aiming to gel quickly and clock a qualifying mark on the fast Usain Bolt Stadium track.
Additionally, Jamaica will field a 4×400-metre mixed relay team comprising Roneisha McGregor, Shanakaye Anderson, Jeremy Bembridge, and Bovel McPherson. The team hopes to capitalize on strong individual performances this season to mount a credible qualification attempt.
The delegation, which departed for Barbados on Tuesday, will be managed by Brian Smith, with experienced coach Paul Francis at the helm. He will be assisted by Lamar Richards, while Jowayne Johnson will serve as the team’s massage therapist.
With qualification spots for the World Championships on the line, the Barbados Grand Prix promises to be an intense evening of relay action, and for Jamaica, a crucial test of depth and readiness ahead of the global stage.
Barbados Grand Prix Squad
- 4x100m Women: Jodean Williams, Krystal Sloley, Jonielle Smith, Serena Cole
- 4x100m Men: Kadrian Goldson, Adrian Kerr, Bouwahgie Nkrumie, Odain McPherson
- 4x400m Mixed Relay: Roneisha McGregor, Shanakaye Anderson, Jeremy Bembridge, Bovel McPherson
The meet marks an important chapter for Jamaican athletics as the nation seeks to maintain its proud relay legacy on the world stage.