Irie Fm Sports understands that a six member team will represent Jamaica in its quest to qualify a men’s 4×400 meters team for the Paris Olympics at this weekend’s New Life Invitational in the Bahamas.
Its understood that the squad will be mostly made up of athletes who participated in the just concluded NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Former Kingston College quarter miler Jevaughn Powell who was third in a personal best 44.54 seconds in the 400 meters and Raheem Hayles of Florida State who was 7th in 45.78 seconds are expected to be in the team.
Former Calabar 800 meters champion Kimar Farquharson now of Texas A&M and Tarees Rhoden formerly of Kingston College now representing Clemson, are both expected to be in the team while Malik James King could be the lone local based member of the squad.
The Jamaican contingent to the Bahamas will include a manager, coach and masseuse.
Jamaica missed out on qualifying for the event at the recently held World Relays Championships in the Bahamas.
At the present moment, Jamaica’s 2 minutes, 59.34 from the World Championships in Budapest last year sees them sitting one place outside of the top 16 countries
Zambia is currently in the final qualifying spot, with 2 minutes 59.12 seconds, while France is the other qualifier based on time with 2 minutes 58.45
First Vice President of the JAAA Ian Forbes told Irie Fm Sports they are seeking to provide the best opportunities for a shot at qualification.
The country has until June 30 to qualify its men’s 4x400m team for the games in Paris.
