media_artricles :: 2013

Former record holder pleads for World Champions team

KINGSTON—Former national discus record holder of Jamaica, Jason Morgan, remains optimistic that he would be given an opportunity to represent the country of his birth at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, even though he didn’t compete at the National Championships last month.

The former Calabar High School standout said his absence from the June 20-23 trials at the National Stadium in Kingston was as a result of not having his travel documents because he was about to be sworn in as a United States citizen, according to the Jamaica Star.

In the e-mail Morgan said he sent to the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) prior to the start of the championships he stated, “I don't have my travel documents at this moment. Unfortunately, I cannot travel without my American passport. It won't be in my presence until a later date. My other travel documents e.g. Green Card that I used to come home for the May Invitational had to be turned in to the US Homeland Security.

“I am still ranked top five in the world at this moment. Also, I am the only Jamaican discus thrower so far who has achieved the World Champion-ship standard.”

However, he said he didn’t get a response from the JAAA and sent another letter enquiring about his situation.

But according to JAAA Executive Member Garth Gayle, he spoke with Morgan last week and explained to him that he was not recommended for selection to the team to Moscow by the JAAA's selection committee.

Morgan, meanwhile, remains despondent. On March 16, Morgan recorded a mark of 65.94 metres while competing at a meet in Ruston, Louisiana. It is by far the best mark by a Jamaican thrower this year bettering season best marks by Chad Wright, the national champion 63.74m and Traves Smikle 63.48m.

Smikle is out of the running for a spot to Moscow after returning an adverse analytical finding at the National Championships in June.

Bearing in mind that his season best throw is still among the best, ranked 11th in the world, Morgan is hoping that he can somehow convince the selectors to change their minds.

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