KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – A 50-member contingent, boasting a large track and field component, will represent world powerhouses Jamaica at the London Olympic Games beginning at month end.
Track and field has accounted for all but three members of the team, which will be led by Chef-de-Mission Donald Anderson and includes 22 officials.
“The team more or less selected itself because, of course, nowadays, unlike the old days, it’s all subject to qualifying times and distances and various other types of qualifications, so the selection sometimes is a misnomer,” Jamaica Olympic Association president, Mike Fennell was quoted as saying.
Sprint sensation Usain Bolt, the reigning Olympic champion in the 100 and 200 metres, tops the list of the 24-member men’s track and field team while Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and 200m title-holder Veronica Campbell-Brown, head the 23-member women’s team.
Fraser-Pryce, won both sprints at the National Championships last month, has been entered in both events in London.
For the first time, Jamaica will be represented in discus at an Olympiad with Travis Smikle and Jason Morgan taking on the men’s challenge and Allison Randall competing in the women.
Outside of track and field, Jamaica will be represented in equestrian by the Canada-born Samantha Albert, in swimming by two-time Olympian Alia Atkinson and in Taekwondo by Kenneth Edwards.
The London Olympics runs from July 27 to August 12.
SQUAD:
MEN – Yohan Blake (100m, 200m, 4x100m); Usain Bolt (100m, 200m, 4x100m); Asafa Powell (100m, 4x100m); Michael Frater (4x100m); Kemar Bailey-Cole (4x100m), Nesta Carter (4x100m); Warren Weir (200m); Dane Hyatt (400m, 4x400m); Rusheen McDonald (400m, 4x400m), Jermaine Gonzales (400m, 4x400m); Errol Nolan (4x400m), Edino Steele (4x400m); Riker Hylton (4x400m); Hansle Parchment (110m hurdles); Andrew Riley (110m hurdles); Richard Phillips (110m hurdles); Leford Green (400m hurdles); Josef Robertson (400m hurdles); Roxroy Cato (400m Hurdles); Damion Forbes (long jump); Dorian Scott (shot put); Traves Smikle (discus), Jason Morgan (discus); Maurice Smith (decathlon); Kenneth Edwards (Taekwondo).
WOMEN – Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (100m, 200m, 4x100m); Veronica Campbell-Brown (100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay); Kerron Stewart (100m, 4x100m relay); Sherone Simpson (200m, 4x100m relay); Schillonie Calvert (4x100m relay); Samantha Henry Robinson (4x100m relay); Novlene Williams (400m, 4x400m); Rosemarie Whyte (400m, 4x400m); Christine Day (400m, 4x400m); Shericka Williams (4x400m); Shereefa Lloyd (4x400m); Dominique Blake (4x400m); Kenia Sinclair (800m); Brigitte Foster-Hylton (100m hurdles); Latoya Greaves (100m hurdles); Shermaine Williams (100m hurdles); Melaine Walker (400m hurdles); Kaliese Spencer (400m hurdles); Nickiesha Wilson (400m hurdles); Kimberly Williams (triple jump); Trecia Smith (triple jump); Allison Randall (discus); Korine Hinds (3000m steeplechase); Samantha Albert (equestrian); Alia Atkinson (swimming).