Jamaica competed at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics from 15–23 August. A team of 46 athletes was announced in preparation for the competition. Selected athletes achieved one of the competition's qualifying standards. The squad had a number of medal hopes for the sprinting events, including Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell, and Michael Frater in the men's and Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerron Stewart, and Shelly-Ann Fraser in the women's. Olympic gold medallist Melaine Walker competed in the 400 metres hurdles and 2007 World Championship silver medallists Maurice Smith, Shericka Williams, and Novlene Williams-Mills also feature.
The Jamaican team suffered a number of setbacks before the event: five of the selected athletes (Yohan Blake, Allodin Fothergill, Lansford Spence, Marvin Anderson and Sheri-Ann Brooks) tested positive for the stimulant methylxanthine, although it is unclear whether they will be banned from competition. In a separate incident, the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association threatened the five athletes in Stephen Francis' Maximising Velocity Power Track Club with deselection after they failed to attend a mandatory training camp in Berlin. The athletes (Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Melaine Walker, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Shericka Williams) were eventually cleared for competition following the personal intervention of IAAF president Lamine Diack.
Team selection
- Also, the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association selected three reserve athletes: Markino Buckley (400 m hurdles), Vonette Dixon (100 m hurdles), and Ramone McKenzie (200 m).
References
External links
- Official competition website
