( left - right ) POWELL and CAMPBELL
THE WORLD'S fastest man, Asafa Powell, injury permitting, and Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell head Jamaica's 51-member contingent set to participate at next month's World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland.
Following several delays by the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) in releasing the team, it was finally made public yesterday with three individual World Championships medallists, James Beckford (long jump, silver), Lorraine Fenton (400m, silver) and Brigitte Foster-Hylton (100mH, silver), included.
Apart from Powell, who is nursing a groin injury, and has not run comfortably since his world 100m record-breaking run on June 14, and Campbell, who won two gold and one bronze at last summer's Olympics, the team has a blend of experience and youth.
MEDAL HOPEFULS
Despite being beaten at the National Championships, Olympic silver medallist over the 400m hurdles, Danny McFarlane, World Junior 200m champion Usain Bolt, who made an early exit at last year's Olympics, Maurice Wignall, who finished fourth in Athens, high jumper Germaine Mason, who is on the comeback trail, long jumper Beckford, and Powell are Jamaica's male medal hopefuls.
On the women's side, Sherone Simpson and Aleen Bailey, who reached finals in Athens, Lorraine Fenton, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Delloreen Ennis-London and Tricia Smith, who narrowly missed bronze at the Olympics, along with Campbell are Jamaica's best hopes for medals.
Omar Brown, Lansford Spence, 19-year-old Shericka Williams, Sheri-Ann Brooks, Kenia Sinclair and Melaine Walker are the rookies that will be looking to impress.
The management team comprises: Ludlow Watts (manager); Grace Jackson and Gregory Hamilton (assistant managers); Donald Quarrie (technical leader); Juliet Cuthbert (press liaison); Glen Mills, Raymond Graham, Maurice Wilson, Fitz Coleman, Michael Clarke, Bertland Cameron (coaches); Dr. Warren Blake, Dr. Glenton Smith, Patricia Lue-Chin (physiotherapist), Maureen Spence-Campbell (physiotherapist).
FULL JAMAICA SQUAD
Asafa Powell (100m, 4x100m), Michael Frater (100m, 4x100m), Dwight Thomas (100m, 4x100m), Patrick Jarrett (4x100m), Usain Bolt (200m, 4x100m), Christopher Williams (200m), Omar Brown (200m), Lansford Spence (400m, 4x400), Brandon Simpson (400m, 4x400m), Michael Blackwood (400m, 4x400m), Sanjay Ayre (4x400m), Germaine Mason (high jump), Maurice Wignall (100m hurdles), Chris Pinnock (100m hurdles), Kemel Thompson (400m hurdles), Danny McFarlane (400m hurdles, 400m), Dean Griffiths (400m hurdles), Maurice Smith (decathlon), James Beckford (long jump), Lansford Davis (4x400m), Davian Clarke (4x400m), Claston Bernard (decathlon), Lerone Clarke (4x100m), Ainsley Waugh (4x100m), Dorian Scott (shot put).
Veronica Campbell (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Sherone Simpson (100m, 4x100m), Aleen Bailey (100m, 200m, 4x100m), Beverley McDonald (4x100m), Sheri-Ann Brooks (200m, 4x100m), Shericka Williams (400m, 4x400m), Lorraine Fenton (400m, 4x400m), Ronetta Smith (400m, 4x400m), Novlene Williams (4x400m), Kenia Sinclair (800m), Delloreen Ennis-London (100m hurdles), Brigitte Foster-Hylton (100m hurdles), Vonette Dixon (100m hurdles), Melaine Walker (400m hurdles), Debbie-Ann Parris-Thymes (400m hurdles), Shevon Stoddart (400m hurdles), Tricia Smith (triple jump), Elva Goulbourne (long jump), Mardra Hyman (steeplechase), Korine Hinds (steeplechase), Shellene Williams (4x400m), Daniele Browning (4x100m), Moya Thompson (4x400m), Kimberly Barrett (shot put), Michelle Ballentine (800m) and Olivia McKoy (javelin).
