KINGSTON, Jamaica – Janieve Russell, who was the overwhelming favourite to win the women’s 400m hurdles at the Jamaica Olympic Team Trials has been forced to pull out of the championships because of an injury.
Russell, who is the second fastest woman in the event in 2016 and the fastest Jamaican for the term, apparently picked up a leg injury during a training session and had to pull out of the meet.
It is understood the 22-year-old filed for a medical exemption, which was approved by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) last week.
Russell has already met the Olympic standard for the campaign with a personal best of 53.96 seconds, and she has been the most consistent Jamaican women’s 400m hurdler this season.
This is why her team doctors sought the approval from the JAAA to secure the medical exemption, which would allow her to get the needed rest and then prove her fitness at a later date before the Rio Olympic Games started in August.
