Bolt, Stewart head athletic squad for Olympics
DANIA BOGLE, Observer staff reporter bogled@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, July 02, 2008

THE Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) yesterday named a strong 51-member athletic squad for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, August 8-24, following the National Senior Track & Field Championships last weekend.

Double sprint champion Usain Bolt heads the Men's list and 100m champion and 200m silver medallist Kerron Stewart the Women's.

Though the list did not specify the respective events athletes will compete in at the Games, seven of the eight finalists in both the Men's and Women's 100 metres were named, including Nickeisha Anderson, who finished seventh in the 100m and sixth in the 200m final.

Meanwhile, Observer sources say World 100m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown, who finished fourth in the 100m at the National Championships at the weekend after clocking a season's best 10.88 seconds, will be an alternate in the event in accordance with JAAA team selection criteria and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Olympic Games entry standards.

The JAAA selection criteria states that "athletes placing in the first to third positions in all events will be selected, provided that they have attained the qualifying 'A' standard for the competition. The fourth-placed athlete will be named as an alternate for the individual event".

According to IAAF Olympic Games entry standards rules, National Olympic Committees have until July 23 to nominate three athletes to be accredited for an event and nominate a fourth as a reserve.

"This reserve could be selected to replace an entered athlete until the time of the technical meeting for the respective event, one day prior to the first competition in the event, and the accreditation status of the replaced athlete transferred to the newly entered athlete", the rule states.

Despite having made the 'A' qualifying standard (14.20m) in the prescribed period, Helsinki 2005 World triple jump champion, Trecia Smith, who leaped 13.61 metres for victory at the Trials has been omitted from the squad.

Smith, a surprise winner in Helsinki three years ago, has battled injury this season and had been doubtful for the Championships. She leaped 14.35 metres at the National Trials on June 23 last year.

However, Women's long jump champion, Chelsea Hammond; javelin winner Olivia McKoy and Men's 800m champion Aldwyn Sappleton - who have all attained the Olympic qualifying 'B' standard - were among the 25 male and 26 female athletes named.

IAAF rules specify that national associations may enter one qualified athlete per event if he or she has met the 'B' qualifying standard between January 1, 2007, and July 23, 2008.

Nesta Carter, who did not start in the final of the Men's 100 metres due to cramps but finished fourth in the 200 metres, has been named.

Holmwood Technical student, Bobby Gaye Wilkins, has also been included following her fifth-placed finish in the Women's 400 metres.

Men's squad: Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, Michael Frater, Marvin Anderson, Dwight Thomas, Julien Dunkley, Andre Wellington, Christopher Williams, Nesta Carter, Michael Blackwood, Ricardo Chambers, Sanjay Ayre, Allodin Fothergill, Marvin Essor, Lansford Spence, Maurice Wignall, Richard Phillips, Danny McFarlane, Markino Buckley, Adrian Findlay, Isa Phillips, Herbert McGregor, Dorian Scott, Aldwyn Sappleton, Maurice Smith

Women's squad: Kerron Stewart, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherri-Ann Brooks, Aleen Bailey, Simone Facey, Nickeisha Anderson, Rosemarie Whyte, Novlene Williams-Nills, Shericka Williams, Shareefa Lloyd, Bobby Gaye Wilkins, Anastasia Leroy, Kenia Sinclair, Mardrea Hyman, Korine Hinds, Chelsea Hammond, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Delloreen Ennis-London, Vonette Dixon, Andrea Bliss, Melaine Walker, Nickeisha Wilson, Shevon Stoddart, Olivia McKoy.

Manager: Ludlow Watts

Assistants: Garth Gayle, Gregory Hamilton, Judith Ewart

Technical leader: Donald Quarrie

Head coach: Glen Mills

Coaches: Maurice Wilson, Bertland Cameron, Michael Clarke, Edward Hector, Fitz Coleman

Team doctors: Warren Blake, Herb Elliott, Michael Douglas

Physiotherapists/masseurs: Gaynor Downer, Everald Edwards, Gavin James.

The athletics aspect of the Games will be held at the National Stadium, Beijing, August 15-24.