Jamaican athletics has announced its 32-member national team roster for the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled for March 20-22 in Poland. The selection features a compelling blend of established international competitors and emerging domestic talent, headlined by 18-year-old prodigy Shanoya Douglas from Holland High School.
Douglas secured her position following extraordinary performances at the recent Carifta Trials held at Kingston’s National Stadium. The teenage sprinter achieved a personal best and world-leading Under-20 time of 11.06 seconds (with 1.5m/s wind assistance) in the 100-meter dash on Friday, followed by a dominant 22.58-second finish (1.7m/s wind) in the Under-20 200-meter event on Sunday. Her selection marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first high school female athlete named to Jamaica’s World Indoor Championships team since 2003, when Holmwood Technical’s Sheryl Morgan and Anniesha McLaughlin earned similar honors for the Birmingham competition. Douglas has been included in the women’s 4×400-meter relay pool.
The Jamaican selection committee also incorporated five athletes currently competing within the United States collegiate system. The team features several medal contenders including Ackeem Blake (bronze medalist in men’s 60m) and Carey McLeod (bronze in men’s long jump) from the 2024 Glasgow competition, alongside Jordan Scott, who reached the men’s triple jump finals at last year’s championships in Nanjing, China.
The complete squad showcases Jamaica’s depth across multiple disciplines:
Women’s Team: Jonielle Smith, Briana Lyston, and Tina Clayton (reserve) in 60m; Megan Simmonds-Tapper and Oneka Wilson in 60m hurdles; Nickisha Pryce in 400m; Natoya Goule-Toppin and Kelly Ann Beckford in 800m; Lamara Distin in high jump; Nia Robinson in long jump; Shantae Foreman in triple jump; and the 4x400m relay pool featuring Pryce, Shana Kaye Anderson, Leah Anderson, Beckford, Goule-Toppin, and Douglas.
Men’s Team: Ackeem Blake, Kishane Thompson, Bryan Levell, and Kadrian Goldson (reserve) in 60m; Demario Prince, Jerome Campbell, and Vashaun Vascianna (reserve) in 60m hurdles; Delano Kennedy and Reheem Hayles in 400m; Navasky Anderson and Rivaldo Marshall in 800m; Carey McLeod, Tajay Gayle, and Jordan Turner (reserve) in long jump; Jordan Scott in triple jump; and the 4x400m relay team comprising Kennedy, Hayles, Kimar Farquharson, Tyrice Taylor, Marshall, and Demar Francis.