Calabar High’s schoolboy De’jour Russell has taken Omar McLeod’s space on Jamaica’s team to the Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast 2018.
McLeod, the Olympic Games and World champion over 110m hurdles, according to the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association president Warren Blake, “he did not make himself available.”
The JAAA didn’t explain how they arrived at the final team selection, but based on the make-up of the team, it’s clear 2017 World Championships trials was the deciding factor.
Russell, the World Youth champion, finished fourth at the Jamaica Trials in 2017.
Elaine Thompson, the Olympic Games sprint double champion, and Yohan Blake, the 2011 World 100m champion, were also named to the team.
MEN:
Kenroy Anderson, Oshane Bailey, Yohan Blake, Kemoy Campbell, Andre Clarke, Everton Clarke, Ricardo Cunningham, Fedrick Dacres, Rasheed Dwyer, Nigel Ellis, Julian Forte, Javon Francis, Demish Gaye, Jermaine Gayle, Tajay Gayle, Steven Gayle, Senoj-jay Givans, Jaheed Hyde, Roland Levy, Peter Matthews, Rusheen McDonald, Ashinia Miller, Kemar Mowatt, Hansle Parchment, Clive Pullen, O’Dayne Richards, De’jour Russell, Traves Smikle, Shawn-D Thompson, Warren Weir
WOMEN:
Christine Day, Gayon Evans, Simone Facey, Shashalee Forbes, Shericka Jackson, Tiffany James, Chrisann Gordon, Natoya Goule, Anastacia Le-Roy, Stephenie-Ann McPherson, Natasha Morrison, Aisha Praught, Shanieka Ricketts, Janieve Russell, Sherone Simpson, Megan Tapper, Danielle Thomas-Dodd, Elaine Thompson, Yanique Thompson, Ristananna Tracey, Rhonda Whyte, Christania Williams, Danielle Williams and Kimberly Williams.