Published 8 August 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News
No Shelly-Ann, VCB, Elaine for women’s 200m
LONDON, England — Having got a second chance to perform at the IAAF World Championships, Gleneve Grange will be hoping to grab the opportunity with both hands when she bows into action today in the women’s shot put starting 2:40 pm Jamaica time.
Grange will be joined by national champion Danniel Thomas-Dodd, while Simone Facey, Shashalee Forbes and Jodean Williams face the starters in the women’s 200m at 1:30 pm.
The 22-year-old Grange, who is the niece of sport minister Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, has a season’s and personal best of 17.29m, which was just short of the 17.75m qualifying mark.
But she has been added by request from the governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) based on their quota system.
A versatile 22-year-old shot-putter with Florida State University and formerly of Holmwood Technical High, she told the Jamaica Observer that she is ready.
“I feel really good going into action and I am ready to compete. My expectation for this meet is to perform to the best of my abilities, and that means if I get a personal best, I would be happy,” said Grange.
She has been drawn in Group B along with world leader and favourite Lijiao Gong of China who has a best throw of 20.11. In fact she is the only female over the 20-metre mark. Plus the likes of the American pair of Daniella Bunch and Michelle Carter, the third and fifth best this year, Grange will have her hands full.
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But the St Catherine native will be focusing on doing well and to help put Jamaica on the map as far as shot put goes.
“For me, honestly, it is really exciting to see two shot putters in this event. It’s something different for the throws in Jamaica. This is really good for the throwers in Jamaica, because the field events get overshadowed by the sprints. This is a big deal for us,” Grange pointed out.
“We are on the right path and that is the best thing for us. It’s a tough event, but I will go and compete and represent my country to the best of my abilities,” she added.
Meanwhile, sixth-ranked Thomas-Dodd, Jamaica’s national record holder with a best of 19.15m, has been drawn in Group A along with second-ranked Raven Saunders of the US, who has a best of 19.76m and Anita Marton of Hungary, the fourth ranked thrower in the world with 19.63m.
Thomas-Dodd could become the first Jamaican to make the final as her 19.15m, if repeated, should make the top 12.
The automatic qualifying mark to the final is 18.30m or the 12 best performances. Both Thomas-Dodd and Grange will be hunting history.
Meanwhile, Jamaica will enter the women’s 200m without proven stars and former champions Veronica Campbell Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Also absent are Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson and Elaine Thompson. And for the first time since the inception of the World Championships in 1983, Jamaica is not fancied for a medal or even to make the final.
The pressure will be on Simone Facey, her cousin Shashalee Forbes and Jodean Williams to deliver and they will have to improve on current seasonal form if they will be in the top eight.
Williams will first be in action in heat one where she will face Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands, while Shashalee Forbes has American Deajah Steven for company in heat three. Facey is drawn in heat four and should advance easily with the talented Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
The first three and the next three from seven heats advance to the semi-finals.
