No vacancy for Chambers to World Championships says Watts

Photo: Ludlow Watts – team manager of the Jamaican track and field team to the World Championships

Following the firestorm that greeted the exclusion of Ricardo Chambers and the inclusion of Rasheed Dwyer in the Jamaican team to the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China later this month, the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association has sought to clear the air about their decisions.

Team manager Mr. Ludlow Watts has given a clear explanation as to what transpired regarding both athletes.

“In the case of (Rasheed) Dwyer, there was a clear vacancy because we had six places for the (4x100m) relay pool, but ended up with only five athletes because one person who had qualified in the top six at trials, (Andrew) Fisher, is looking to represent another country, so that left us with five athletes and a clear vacancy in the 4x100m,” Watts told the Gleaner.

“Based on the entry, you could not have gotten anyone else on the team unless it was someone for the relay pool.”
“In the case of (Ricardo) Chambers, there was no scope for him to get in because they already selected six athletes for the 4x400m pool, so he could only have been named to the squad if someone withdrew,” Watts explained.

Javon Francis, Rusheen McDonald and Peter Matthews have the three individual spots, with Edino Steele, Jonia McDonald and Dane Hyatt making up the relay pool.

Chambers is one of only three Jamaicans to have run below 45s this year in the 400m, including Francis and McDonald. The 30 year old registered 44.93s at the NACAC Games just a few days ago.