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Technical men still mulling over key moves
Published: Friday | August 9, 2013
Head coach Michael Clarke. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
MOSCOW, Russia:
Michael Clarke, head coach of Jamaica's team at the IAAF World Championship in Athletics here, is not expecting any issues where the selections for the relay teams are concerned and noted that the management team has yet to decide on the third men's 400m starter.
Youngsters Javere Bell and Javon Francis will definitely face the starter when the 400m heats run off at 11:05 a.m. on Sunday but there is a delay in the decision of who will join the pair in the event.
With a top-three finish being the first qualifying marker, Akheem Gauntlett, who has since withdrawn from the team, finished third at the National Championships in 45.48 with Omar Johnson, 45.50, Edino Steele, 45.53 and Rusheen McDonald, 45.55 following them to the line.
However, only McDonald has since met the 'A' qualifying standard for the event, recording a 45.28 seconds mark on July 16, leaving the technical team here with a decision to make.
They can decide to run all three 'A' qualifiers or opt for the top two 'A' qualifiers and a 'B' qualifier.
However, Clarke, who was not prepared to go into details, explained that the decision has been delayed because of a technicality, which is presently being examined by technical leader Maurice Wilson .
"There is something of a technicality, which the technical leader Maurice Wilson is looking at to have that ironed out and smoothed out so that there are no challenges to (cause) him (Omar Johnson) or any replacement to have any problems," Clarke told The Gleaner, before noting that the matter should be resolved soon. "I think it should be resolved by the end of the week."
NO PROBLEMS FORESEEN
Clarke also stated that he is not expecting any issues with the selection of the men's 4x100m relay, after questions about the make-up of the team.
One hundred metres qualifiers Usian Bolt, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Nickel Ashmeade and Nesta Carter selected themselves to the pool with Jason Livermore and Oshane Bailey also added to the squad by the selection committee. Teams can, however, add up to two athletes, who compete in individual events and 200m specialist Warren Weir has been seen participating in relay drills, raising questions about the make-up of the team.
"We have a relay pool of seven persons and the coaches will meet to decide which four run the heats and then from the heats we decide and based on the performances of those persons who are running individual events, we decide who runs the final, so there isn't any real decision yet as to who will run what positions as yet," Clarke said.
Jamaica are the defending champions in the event after recording a World Championships record and then world record 37.04 in Daegu, South Korea two years ago. The country also won at the previous championships in Berlin, Germany in 2009.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...s/sports5.html
Published: Friday | August 9, 2013
Head coach Michael Clarke. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
MOSCOW, Russia:
Michael Clarke, head coach of Jamaica's team at the IAAF World Championship in Athletics here, is not expecting any issues where the selections for the relay teams are concerned and noted that the management team has yet to decide on the third men's 400m starter.
Youngsters Javere Bell and Javon Francis will definitely face the starter when the 400m heats run off at 11:05 a.m. on Sunday but there is a delay in the decision of who will join the pair in the event.
With a top-three finish being the first qualifying marker, Akheem Gauntlett, who has since withdrawn from the team, finished third at the National Championships in 45.48 with Omar Johnson, 45.50, Edino Steele, 45.53 and Rusheen McDonald, 45.55 following them to the line.
However, only McDonald has since met the 'A' qualifying standard for the event, recording a 45.28 seconds mark on July 16, leaving the technical team here with a decision to make.
They can decide to run all three 'A' qualifiers or opt for the top two 'A' qualifiers and a 'B' qualifier.
However, Clarke, who was not prepared to go into details, explained that the decision has been delayed because of a technicality, which is presently being examined by technical leader Maurice Wilson .
"There is something of a technicality, which the technical leader Maurice Wilson is looking at to have that ironed out and smoothed out so that there are no challenges to (cause) him (Omar Johnson) or any replacement to have any problems," Clarke told The Gleaner, before noting that the matter should be resolved soon. "I think it should be resolved by the end of the week."
NO PROBLEMS FORESEEN
Clarke also stated that he is not expecting any issues with the selection of the men's 4x100m relay, after questions about the make-up of the team.
One hundred metres qualifiers Usian Bolt, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Nickel Ashmeade and Nesta Carter selected themselves to the pool with Jason Livermore and Oshane Bailey also added to the squad by the selection committee. Teams can, however, add up to two athletes, who compete in individual events and 200m specialist Warren Weir has been seen participating in relay drills, raising questions about the make-up of the team.
"We have a relay pool of seven persons and the coaches will meet to decide which four run the heats and then from the heats we decide and based on the performances of those persons who are running individual events, we decide who runs the final, so there isn't any real decision yet as to who will run what positions as yet," Clarke said.
Jamaica are the defending champions in the event after recording a World Championships record and then world record 37.04 in Daegu, South Korea two years ago. The country also won at the previous championships in Berlin, Germany in 2009.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/2...s/sports5.html