Injured Skeen pulled from 100m

Andre Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter



LILLE, FRANCE:



Already depleted following the withdrawal of world youth-leading 100m sprinter Jazeel Murphy, Jamaica’s team at the IAAF World Youth Championships suffered another major blow Tuesday.



Youth Olympic 100m champion Odean Skeen was also pulled from the event a day before the start of the championships, due to a recurring hamstring strain.



Skeen, the third fastest youth in the world with a best of 10.41 seconds this year, has been dogged by the injury all season.



However, he recovered in time for the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Assocation/Supreme Ventures Limited National Junior Championships, where he finished second in both the 100m and 200m.



The Wolmer’s standout however aggravated the injury at a recent training session, where he complained about pain in the region. He has been pulled from the event as a precautionary measure.



It is hoped that he will feel better in time to compete in the 200m, which starts on Friday, two days after Wednesday’s start to the 100m preliminary round.



Team manager, Trevor ‘TC’ Campbell confirmed the withdrawal.



“He is feeling something in his leg and we decided to rest him and give him time to recover for the 200m,”Campbell said.



With the medley relay also on the plate, head coach Leacroft Bolt is hoping that one of his main aces will be able to play some part in the championships and is expecting the extra days of rest will help the sprinter.



andre.lowe@gleanerjm.com