The Jamaican contingent to the 20th World Masters Athletics Championships scheduled for Lyon, France from August 4-16 is all set and raring to go.
The twelve member team which consists of eight men and four women is headed by World and Olympic silver medallist in the Long Jump, James Beckford who will compete in the Long Jump and the 100metres events. Other members of the team include 400m hurdles champion from the Sacramento edition of the Championships in 2011, Winston Chambers; finalist in the 100 and 200metres at the Porto Alegre staging of the Championships in 2013; local 100m champion, Samuel Brevett; Gavin Shand; Oral Anderson; Gleneta Kenyon; Clifton Thomas; Robert Grant; Dionne McKenzie; Janette Edwards and Larkland King.
President of the Jamaica Masters Athletics Association, Leo McEwan says he is expecting the team to do well.
“We definitely should come away with some medals as we have the quality athletes to ensure this; as to the complexion of the medals, I would not want to make any predictions,” he added.
At the last staging of the Championships in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Jamaica did not come away with any medals, while at the 2011 staging in Sacramento, USA, they came away with two gold medals, courtesy of Ceceile Bordato in the Marathon and Winston Chambers in the 400m hurdles.
Over 8,000 athletes from 98 countries are down to compete at the Championships which are held every two years.
