Former Hydel High star sprinter Ashanti Moore has been added to Jamaica’s team for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary from August 19 to 27.
Moore’s inclusion comes as a late replacement for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the women’s 200m, despite her failure to advance to the final during the Jamaica trials on July 9.
The 36-year-old Fraser-Pryce was named for the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m on Jamaica’s 65-member team, which was announced on August 2.
Fraser-Pryce earned her 200m spot after finishing second behind Shericka Jackson at the Jamaica trials on July 9 in 22.26. However, she had expressed uncertainty about competing in the event in Budapest.
Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal was confirmed today as her name did not appear on the final entry lists posted on World Athletics’ website for the World Athletics Championships.
With Jackson enjoying a wildcard entry as the defending champion in the 200m, Jamaica is eligible to send four female athletes to the World Championships in that category.
Moore will join Jackson, Natalliah Whyte, and Kevona Davis as Jamaica’s representatives in the women’s 200m.
Jackson triumphed in the 200m at the Jamaican trials, recording a time of 21.71 seconds. Fraser-Pryce trailed behind in second place at 22.26 seconds, followed by Lanae-Tava Thomas from the University of Texas who secured third place with a time of 22.55 seconds. Natalliah Whyte clinched fourth place, clocking 22.67 seconds.
However, Thomas couldn’t take up her spot due to a lack of clearance from World Athletics after changing allegiance to represent Jamaica. Consequently, Davis, who finished fifth with a time of 22.80 at the Jamaican trials, assumed Thomas’ spot.
Moore boasts a season-best of 22.49 in the 200m, ranking her 35th globally.
In a separate development, the final entry lists include Rusheen McDonald as a member of the 400m team. The Jamaican record holder for the event was initially designated solely for the mixed 4x400m relay.
McDonald only competed in the preliminary round at the Jamaica trials.
Since then, he has demonstrated his peak form, achieving his best performance since setting the Jamaican record of 43.93 seconds in the 2015 World Championships’ first round. On July 18 in Hungary, he achieved the third-fastest time ever run by a Jamaican when he raced to a season-best 44.03 to finish behind Bahamian Steven Gardiner who ran a world-leading 43.74.
McDonald’s time of 44.03 stands as the third-fastest globally this year. He also clocked times of 44.83 (July 14) and 44.80 (July 20).
McDonald, along with Sean Bailey, Antonio Watson, and Zandrion Barnes, were listed in the final entry. However, only three of them will represent Jamaica in Budapest.
Upon the team announcement, Lincoln Eatmon, chairman of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association selection committee, clarified that McDonald wasn’t considered as he only competed in one round at the trials.
The top three athletes in each event at the Jamaica trials qualified for the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, contingent upon meeting the world standard requirements.
Bailey (44.48), Watson (44.54), and Jevaughn Powell (45.19) secured the top three positions. However, Powell fell short of the World Athletics Championships’ qualifying time of of 45.00, leading to Barnes, who finished sixth in 46.10, being named as the third team member. Barnes attained the standard on June 3 at the National Stadium, clocking 44.90.
Malik James-King and Demish Gaye who were fourth and fifth respectively, also did not achieved the qualifying time.
