Jamaica could miss double-digit medal count in Budapest

FOR THE past two World Athletics Championships, Jamaica’s athletes have finished in the top three on both the medal tally and points tables.

In 2019 in Doha, the country picked up 12 medals, including three gold, five silver and four bronze.

Last year in Eugene, Oregon, they ended with 10, two gold, seven silver and one bronze. On both occasions, they were third on the placing table, with 122 points in Doha and 110 in Eugene. The United States dominated both areas.

With its largest contingent ever at a World Championships where some 65 athletes are down to represent the country in Budapest, expectations are high that the country will surpass the medal haul of the past two Championships.

Despite the increased numbers, a Sunday Gleaner analysis is suggesting Jamaica could, in fact, end with less medals, three gold, five silver, and one bronze.

Defending 200-metre champion Shericka Jackson is projected to pick up one of two individual gold medals, as she is a safe bet to retain her title and could challenge Florence Griffith Joyner’s world record of 21.34 seconds.

Jackson should also be involved in another gold in the women’s 4x100-metre relay, while Commonwealth Games 110-metre hurdles champion Rasheed Broadbell, in his second appearance at a World Athletics Championships, could pick up the only gold for the men.

Broadbell, who just missed the final last year after a third-place finish in his semi-final, is one of three athletes under the 13-second barrier this season.

His personal best of 12.94 seconds, done at the National Junior and Senior Championships, makes him the world number one going into the event.

Of the five silver medals, two are expected in individual events, with the other three in relays.

Jackson should pick up her third medal of the Championships with a second-place finish in the women’s 100 metres. In what could be the race of the championships, she should be involved in a feisty battle with countrywoman and defending champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, along with Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast and Sha’Carri Richardson of the United States.

In only his first championships and being the youngest member on the Jamaica team, 18-year-old Jaydon Hibbert looks set for a medal in the men’s triple jump, with his best bet being a silver.

With a world-leading 17.81 metres, Hibbert, who has only lost once this season, will take on two athletes who have gone over 18 metres, defending champion Pedro Pichardo of Portugal, and Hughues Fabrice Zango of Burkina Faso, who defeated the Jamaican at the Monaco Diamond League.

The men’s 4x100, along with both men’s and women’s 4x400-metre relays, should finish second to close out the silver medals.

Jamaica’s lone bronze is expected to come in the women’s 400-metre hurdles where anyone of Janieve Russell, Rushell Clayton, and Andrenette Knight could finish at least third. Femke Bol of the Netherlands and Shamier Little of the United States are favoured for the gold and silver.

All three Jamaicans will be in a tight contest with the United States, Dalilah Muhammad, the former world record holder and bronze medallist last year, and Anna Cockrell for the bronze. Clayton has had the best result for Jamaica in the event at the past two Championships, after bronze in Doha and coming sixth in the final last year. However, Russell seems most likely for the bronze this time out.

Of course, the projection has not taken into consideration the possibility of Shanieka Ricketts in the women’s triple jump, Danniel Thomas-Dodd in the women’s shot put, Fraser-Pryce in the women’s 100 metres, Hansle Parchment in the 110-metre hurdles, Oblique Seville in the men’s 100 metres, Wayne Pinnock in the men’s long jump, and the mixed relay team, who could all the push the projections north.