MONTEGO BAY, St James — Time could be running out on a number of Jamaican athletes seeking to achieve at least the ‘B’ qualifying standards to the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia, set for August 10-18.
With three weeks to go to the July 29 deadline for athletes to achieve the standards to be selected by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) for the championships, several athletes are still short of the ‘B’ standards required.According to the qualification rules set out by the IAAF, each event has an automatic of ‘A’ qualifying standard and a ‘B’ qualifying standard.Each federation is allowed to enter a maximum of four athletes in most events, except the marathon, either all with the ‘A’ standard or up to three ‘A’ standards and a ‘B’. A maximum of three will be allowed to participate plus a fourth if that athlete has a bye through being the defending champion or the IAAF Diamond League champion from the previous season.In the case where no athlete has achieved the ‘A’ standard, the federation is allowed to enter two athletes with the ‘B’ standard, but only one will be eligible to compete.The standards must be achieved between October 1, 2012 and July 29 this year for it to be accepted by the IAAF, the rule also states.National senior discus throw champions Chad Wright and Allison Randall, both of whom won their events at last week’s XXIV Central American and Caribbean track and field championships in Mexico, as well as triple jumper Wilbert Walker are still short of the mark, as well as former World Youth discus throw bronze medallist Traves Smikle. Triple jumpers Shanieka Thomas and Trecia Smith are also among those hoping to make the standards in the time left.Shot putter O’Dayne Richards threw a personal best 20.97m to win the gold at CAC on Sunday, well past the ‘A’ standard 20.60m to secure his place, and Raymond Brown, who has personal best 20.13m, just over the 20.10m ‘B’ standard.Wright is mere centimetres from the ‘B’ mark of 64.00m after throwing 63.74m earlier this year. He won with 62.35m at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships, but had just 60.79m in Mexico.Jason Morgan has already achieved the ‘B’ standard after a season-best 65.94m, and has thrown over 64.00m many times this season, but did not compete at the Championships due to an emergency. He has since written to the JAAA explaining why he was not able to make it, but was left out of the CAC team.Smikle, the national record holder who also competed in London last year, has had injury setbacks this season and has a season best 63.48m set in April.Randall, who competed at the Olympic Games in London last year, is also within touching distance after throwing 58.97m to retain her title at the Championships, just outside the 59.50m ‘B’ mark.Like Smikle, Thomas will be hoping for a second visit to Russia this year and has a season best 14.15m just behind Smith’s 14.18, as both seek the ‘B’ mark of 14.20m, and the ‘A’ mark of 14.40m to join Kimberly Williams, who already has the ‘A’ mark.Thomas is into Thursday’s final of the triple jump at the WUG after jumping 13.48m in the preliminaries.Walker won the men’s triple jump at the Senior Championships with a windaided 16.40m and must make it to 16.48m to have a chance for selection.
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Window narrows for athletes seeking ‘B’ standards
