Jamaica to send strongest team to IAAF World Relays

Nassau (Bahamas), Feb 7 (IANS/CMC) Jamaica plans to send its strongest team to the IAAF World Relays to be held here May 24-25.

Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) president Warren Blake said the best team will be selected despite the absence of a trial prior to the inaugural meet.

“We will be selecting the team the same way we have done with the Penn Relays teams that comes on a month before and the World Indoors. We write to the coaches and the athletes’ reps and get in touch with them. They will recommend which of their athletes will be available and then we choose the best team out of what is available at the time,” said Blake.

The first edition of the event will serve as a qualifying competition for the 2015 IAAF World Championships. More than 1,000 athletes and team officials from 40 nations are expected here for the event.

The top-eight teams in the 4x100m and 4x400m events will automatically qualify for the World Championships in Beijing.

Led by sprint sensation Usain Bolt, Jamaica have swept the 4x100m relays at the Olympic and World Championships since 2008 and are expected to dominate once again.