By Daraine Luton, Freelance WriterUSAIN BOLT, Jamaica's 17-year old sprint sensation, has been named in Jamaica's team for next month's Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Bernard Panton, chairman of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) selection committee, confirmed this yesterday.
"Yes he is in," Panton told The Gleaner when asked about Bolt's inclusion.
While a fit Bolt's inclusion in the Jamaica team was never in question, ominous clouds hung over the sprinter's head due to an injury which has kept him out of competition since running a 400-metre relay leg at the Penn Relays.
He has since pulled out of the National Junior Championships, the National Senior Champion-ships, and golden league and grand prix meetings in Europe.
NO DECISION
However, although Bolt has been included in the 47-member side to the Olympics, Panton was quick to point out that no decision has yet been made as to the third person who will be running the 200 metres.
Steve Mullings and Christopher Williams, who finished first and second respectively at the National Championships, are both assured a place on the team because of the JAAA selection policy. The third person on the team is discretionary but the JAAA has a tough call as Bolt and Asafa Powell have expressed an interest in representing the country in the event.
"All four have been selected but I cannot say who is the third person on the (200m) team," said Panton.
Bolt (19.93) is the fastest man in the world this year, Powell (20.10) is the third fastest, while Mullings' time of 20.22 puts him in sixth spot but the JAAA might have difficulties borrowing Williams' spot from him.
Williams, a silver medallist at the World Championship in 2001, has so far registered a season-best 20.43 seconds.
Also, the JAAA will have to make a decision on veteran quarter-miler Gregory Haughton, who pulled up in the heats of the 400m, and sprint hurdlers Dwight Thomas and Christopher Pinnock.
Thomas, who has distinguished himself in the event, hit the first hurdle and failed to finish while Pinnock, who was in second before the penultimate hurdle, stumbled and ended up fifth.
FAILED 'A' STANDARD
The Winner of the event Maurice Wignall secured his spot but the man who came second, Ricardo Melbourne (13.84) failed to meet the 'A' standard of 13.55 seconds, a feat Richard Phillips, Thomas and Pinnock have already achieved.
Panton said selecting the athletes for the Olympic Games is a tedious process, aided only by those athletes who selected themselves.
"It was a thorough process. We do not take it lightly. We have to take into consideration the top two finishers and see if they have made the 'A' standard then name the third person," he said.
He added that the selectors are at liberty to name any person to the team provided that they either participated in the meet or submitted a medical report.
Although he declined to give details of the squad which has been selected, Panton said the contingent has slightly more females than males and contains "no surprises".
The executive body will ratify the selections before releasing the names to the public.
