Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

( L - R ) Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Sherone Simpson

It's now final. Sherone Simpson and Brigitte Foster-Hylton will not represent Jamaica at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Bothathletes missed the National Championships which was used to select the team.

However, the prospect of them being selected on the team was still open, in lieu of a Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) policy that caters to athletes who are ranked in the world's top three.

The JAAA had left its decision to the 11th hour - yesterday when the deadline for all athletes participating at the World Championships were to be submitted.

In a release sent yesterday, the JAAA stated: "In keeping with our selection policy, our world ranked athletes who did not compete at our National Championships were given up to this date (August 13) to prove their world ranking form."

It added: "Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Sherone Simpson have not been able to demonstrate such form and they have not been included in the final submission of entries."

The JAAA's rule which grants leeway for such athletes states: "Athletes with top three world ranking who are ill or injured at the time of the National Championships may still be considered for selection, but they must prove their world ranking form prior to the final submission of the entries for the competition."

Since the National Championships, in two races, Simpson struggled to 11.75 in Monaco and 11.61 on August 7 in Stockholm, finishing eighth on both occasions.

Leg injury

Foster-Hylton, on the other hand, has not run since May 5 when she finished first at the Jamaica International Invitational meeting in 12.71 seconds, at the National Stadium.

She came out for the start of the 100m hurdles at the National Champs, but opted out with a leg injury at the final minute.

In an interview with The Gleaner, Paul Doyle, manager of both athletes, expressed mixed reaction to the JAAA's decision.

Doyle was more furious about the selection of Lacena Golding-Clarke over Foster-Hylton, saying the former has not run since June 24, and has a slower time than the latter this season.

"Brigitte Foster-Hylton not being selected was a bit hard to understand," said Doyle.

"Even if they are not selecting her (Foster-Hylton), selecting Lacena Golding-Clarke instead is baffling when Brigitte ran 12.71 this year and Lacena hasn't run since the National Championships and even better, she didn't run well. That was surprising."

Foster-Hylton has run a season-best 12.71 seconds - done in her only race of the season - on May 5 Jamaica Invitational, where she placed first.

In three outings, Golding-Clarke has run 13.16 at the National Championships, 13.12 in Doha and 12.90 at the Jamaica Invitational.

As for Simpson, while Doyle was more reserved, he believes they could have at least considered her for the relay team.

Meanwhile, The Gleaner has learnt that Foster-Hylton and Simpson, along with Asafa Powell, Melaine Walker, Shericka Williams, Nesta Carter, Shelly-Ann Fraser and Markino Buckley are expected to arrive at the Jamaica training camp in Tottori, Japan today.

The training camp started on Sunday and Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell and Steve Mullings are also expected to join the camp today.