Don’t hold your breath

AFTER A fabulous year in female sprinting at the global level last year where Jamaican athletes dominated the 100 metres through Elaine Thompson Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson, who swept the medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games, all eyes will once again be on the country’s women.

Thompson Herah would go on to win the Diamond League title in the 100 metres and now takes aim at the IAAF World Championships down to take place from July 15-24 in Eugene, Oregon.

Before that, though, fans will be watching the National Senior Championships, scheduled for June 23-26 inside the National Stadium.

After third-place finishes in the 100- and 200-metre events at the last championships, Thompson Herah went on to defend both titles at the Tokyo Games. She is expected to be on show at the trials with world number two Fraser-Pryce (10.60) and Jackson number four with 10.76 seconds in an event where Fraser-Pryce is the National defending champion.

While the world will be trying to place their bets based on what happens at the National trials, a wait for such an occasion might be on the cards.

Both athletes have already qualified for the World Championships, Fraser-Pryce, as the defending champion, and Thompson Herah as the Diamond League winner have automatic spots.

Only one of the two can take up an automatic spot, which likely goes to the defending champion. Teams are not allowed to carry more than four athletes in any one event to the World Championships.

This does not mean the clash will not materialise and there is the very real possibility both will be down to run the half-lap event at the trials.

sports@gleanerjm.com