Athletics World Cup team weakened by withdrawals
Like the Brits, president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Warren Blake, said the Jamaican team going to the inaugural staging of the Athletics World Cup will be weakened by the withdrawal of a number of athletes sponsored by adidas.
Blake said at least two athletes who were invited to compete in the two-day meet at the 2012 Olympic Stadium in Stratford London, have declined.
“Jamaica has also had some withdrawals from the event, and it happens to be athletes from adidas,” Blake told STAR Sports. “We haven’t gotten anything official from adidas as to why these athletes have decided not to participate. But someone affiliated with the brand said that the meet is not properly organised.”
But Blake opposes that stance, saying that the event is IAAFsanctioned and will be run at the same standard like the World Championships or any other IAAF event.
INVITATION DECLINED
Danielle Williams, the 2015 World champion in the 100m hurdles, is one of the athletes who have reportedly declined the invitation. But the 25-year-old told STAR Sports that the event was never part of her plans for the season.
“It was not on my calendar for this year. When we were making the calendar for this year, we didn’t know much about it, so we decided that we were
not going,” Williams, who recently ran a personal best time of 12.48 seconds, said.
Blake has also named Anastasia LeRoy as another athlete who has withdrawn from the meet.
“I am sure of Williams and LeRoy, but there are others. We will replace these athletes,” Blake said.
The likes of Reece Prescod and Dina Asher-Smith, who recently won the men’s and women’s 100m at the British Athletics trials, have opted not to represent Team GB at the event.
Other athletes who pulled themselves from the event include Zharnel Hughes, Adam Gemili and Laura Muir, according to the BBC.
The event is scheduled for the 14th and 15th of this month.