By Kayon Raynor
Double sprint world record holder Usain Bolt and reigning Olympic and World championship 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have both been named in Jamaica’s team to the 20th staging of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland between July 23 and Aug. 3.
According to sources close to RJR Sports Online, both sprinters have only been entered to compete in the 4x100m relays, after receiving medical exceptions to miss the Jamaica Senior Trials between June 26 and 29.
The squad of between 45 and 50 athletes, which was picked Monday evening, is to be ratified by the JAAA executive and announced on Thursday at the press conference to be hosted by the Jamaica Olympic Association.
In early June, 16-time Olympic and world championship medallist Usain Bolt, withdrew from the Ostrava World Challenge and Paris Diamond League meets because he felt his conditioning was not at the required standard.
The inclusion of Bolt and Fraser-Pryce, both 27, is a boost for the Commonwealth Games organisers’ athletics programme, which has been bypassed by high profile athletes for the lucrative European circuit in previous years.
Fraser-Pryce, a four-time Olympic and seven-time world championship medallist, had also withdrawn from the New York Diamond League meet last month after a few sub-standard performances.
Her dip in form was reportedly linked to a shin injury which previously saw her withdrawing from the UTECH Classic in Kingston in April.
The Jamaican squad also includes 16 time Olympic and World Championship medallist Veronica Campbell-Brown who clocked 10.96secs to win Jamaica’s women’s 100m trials on Friday.
The Jamaican team, which will be guided by a nine member coaching and management team lead by technical leader Maurice Wilson, will be seeking to improve on seven medals won at the 2010 edition in Delhi, India.
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Usain Bolt and Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce in Jamaica"s team to Commonwealth Games
