Usain Bolt and Fraser-Fryce seek three-peat in Rio

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) recently named 57 athletes and 17 officials for the 2016 Rio Olympics Games set from August 5-21, 2016. The XXXI Olympiad will feature a strong Jamaican team lead by six-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt. Bolt will be seeking an unprecedented three-peat as he is scheduled to defend his 100m and 200m titles, which he has won in Beijing 2008 and successfully defended in London 2012.  

The team also features Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who is also seeking a three-peat of her own, as she tackles her specialty, the 100m. Fraser-Pryce won the women’s 100m title in 2008 and successfully defended her title in London 2012. Perhaps Fraser-Pryce main challenge will come from teammate Elaine Thompson (ET), who ran a blistering 10.70 seconds recently to equal the Jamaican national record.  Thompson is schedule for the 100/200m sprint double, while Fraser-Pryce will focus only on the 100m.

Men’s

Nickel Ashmeade and Yohan Blake will contest the 100/200m sprint double along with Usain Bolt,  with Jevaughnn Minzie named as a reserve. Asafa Powell and Kemar Bailey-Cole were added to the 4x100m men’s relay pool.  

Jaheel Hyde, fresh from his gold medal performance in the 400m hurdles at the just concluded IAAF U20 World Championships, headlines the men’s 400m list which includes Roxroy Cato and Annsert Whyte.

The 2016 national champion Javon Francis leads the team of Nathon Allen, Fitzroy Dunkley and national record-holder Rusheen McDonald in the men’s 400m.

Omar McLeod and Hansle Parchment are slated for the 110m hurdles, while Damar Forbes and Aubrey Smith will contest the long jump. Clive Pullen will contest the triple jump.

Women’s

Fraser-Pryce and Thompson will be joined by Christiana Williams in the 100m. Veronica Campbell-Brown (VCB) will contest the 200m along with Simone Facey, Kali Davis-White and Thompson.

Shericka Jackson, Christine Day and Stephenie-Ann McPherson will contest the 400m, while Natoya Goule and Kenia Sinclair will be in the 800m.

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, Jamaica has three qualifiers, Tarasue Barnett, Kellion Knibb and Shadae Lawrence.    

Here is the complete list of track and field athletes and officials below:

MEN
100m: Nickel Ashmeade, Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Jevaughn Minzie
200m: Nickel Ashmeade, Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Julian Forte
400m: Nathon Allen, Fitzroy Dunkley, Javon Francis, Rusheen McDonald
5000m: Kemoy Campbell
110m hurdles: Deuce Carter, Omar McLeod, Andrew Riley, Hansle Parchment
400m hurdles: Roxroy Cato, Jaheel Hyde, Romel Lewis, Annsert Whyte
Long jump: Damar Forbes, Aubrey Smith
Triple jump: Clive Pullen
Shot put: O’Dayne Richards
Discus: Fedrick Dacres
4x100m: Nickel Ashmeade, Kemar Bailey-Cole, Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Jevaughn Minzie, Asafa Powell
4x400m: Nathon Allen, Jevere Bell, Fitzroy Dunkley, Javon Francis, Peter Matthews, Rusheen McDonald

WOMEN
100m: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson, Christania Williams
200m: Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kali Davis-White, Simone Facey, Elaine Thompson
400m: Christine Day, Shericka Jackson, Stephenie-Ann McPherson
800m: Simoya Campbell, Natoya Goule, Kenia Sinclair
1500m: Aisha Praught
100m hurdles: Monique Morgan, Shermaine Williams, Nickiesha Wilson, Megan Simmonds
400m hurdles: Leah Nugent, Janieve Russell, Kaliese Spencer, Ristananna Tracey
Triple jump: Shaneika Thomas, Kimberly Williams
Shot put: Danniel Thomas
Discus: Tarasue Barnett, Kellion Knibb, Shadae Lawrence
Hammer: Daina Levy
4x100m: Veronica Campbell-Brown, Simone Facey, Shashalee Forbes, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson, Christania Williams
4x400m: Christine Day, Chrisann Gordon, Shericka Jackson, Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, Novlene Williams-Mills

Management Team