Reigning Men’s long jump champion Tajay Gayle appears set to miss out on defending his title when the World Athletics Championships get underway tomorrow July 15 at the Hayward Field in Eugene Oregon.
Gayle who picked up a bone bruise on the knee at the National Championships in June, turned up for training at the Lake Community College field today but was not comfortable in executing his preparations to the fullest.
It has left his Coach Stephen Francis less than optimistic about him turning up for the long jump qualifiers tomorrow.
In fact coach Francis is almost confident its a waste of time if Gayle actually try to compete as he will only be making up numbers.
Jamaica’s sole representative in the men’s long Jump will be the NCAA champion Wayne Pinnock.
Meanwhile schoolboy Gregory Prince will not participate any at all in the Mixed 4×400 meters relay as he is set to arrive in Eugene tonight having only gotten his US Visa yesterday.
His coach Bertland Cameron says he will now train to be a part of the men’s 4×400 meters team.
The starting line up for the heats will be Demish Gaye, Ronesha Mcgregor, Tiffany James and Karayme Bartley. Jamaica will face Dominican Republic, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, Bahamas, South Africa and Spain in heat two at 1.56pm Jamaica time.
Jamaica’s other competitors on tomorrow’s opening day are Danielle Thomas Dodd and Lloydirka Cameron in the women’s shot put, and Yohan Blake, Oblique Seville and Akeem Blake in the men’s 100 meters heats.