WHILE MANY OF US are happy that Akela Jones has qualified for the Rio Olympics next year in Brazil, it doesn’t mean that she’s an automatic member, according to the selection criteria set out by the Athletics Association Of Barbados (AAB).
Jones made the qualifying mark in the heptathlon when she won the NCAA title last week in Eugene, Oregon. Were this the Olympic year, the gifted athlete would have been in the Olympic team without question.
You see, the AAB sets annual standards and usually sticks by them unless you find merit in their exceptional circumstances category. In other words, because Jones attained the standard in 2015 she isn’t a shoo-in for Rio because she still has to meet the expectations of the association in 2016 when those standards are known.
Based on that, even Minister of Sport Stephen Lashley may have spoken too soon when he congratulated Jones on her latest accolade and indicated he was looking forward to her performance in Brazil.
Lashley said: “This is wonderful news and I really would like to ensure that she understands that Barbados stands behind her in her quest for gold at the Olympic Games.”
For the purpose of this article and for better understanding of the association’s selection policies, I think it is pertinent to highlight some of the key points in their criteria which can be found on their website (www.aaabarbados.com).
• To be eligible for selection for national duty athletes must compete at the National Championships and/or a designated “trials” meet unless they have been granted exemptions by the AAB in advance.
• An achievement of the meet organiser’s entry/qualification standard for an event does not guarantee selection. The AAB shall set performance/qualification standards through the standards committee for regional and international competitions.
• Achievement of a performance/qualification standard set by the council does not guarantee selection as the physical fitness, training status and current form of the athlete determined by a fitness subcommittee of the AAB, will be taken into consideration. The AAB reserves the right to have its medical team determine the fitness and medical soundness of any athlete considered for selection.
• Performances must be achieved during an official competition organised in conformity with IAAF rules. The qualifying periods will be specified by the association.
• Performances achieved in competitions outside of Barbados must be supported by a certified copy of the meet results or other proof of the performances. Only properly verified performances from a recognised source will be considered.
• When an athlete is injured subsequent to selection the athlete or representative must disclose the injury to the AAB. The athlete may be required to be examined by medical personnel appointed by the council and may be required to submit to fitness testing under the auspices of the AAB.
Once again, I would like to emphasise all of the above regulations apply to the year in which the various competitions fall.
Precedent
I might add at this juncture that there’s precedent for the AAB’s position on this matter. You might recall that sprinter Shakera Reece was excluded from the 2012 London Olympics team because she didn’t run the qualifying time in the 100 metres that year, although she had done so the previous year when she got bronze at the senior Pan American Games held in Mexico.
I said at the time I thought that decision was a bit harsh and rigid considering that there was nobody at home to rival her at that stage and her management found it extremely difficult to raise the funds to send her to overseas meets to prepare properly for London.
I think she and others on her team also believed it was a formality that she would be going to London and weren’t prepared for her shocking exclusion. I believe it took a mental toll on Reece and she is gradually getting back into competition as she has participated in some of the meets this season.
Let’s for a moment, though, juxtapose Jones’ situation with that of the reigning Olympic heptathlon champion, Britain’s Jessica Ennis-Hill, who has only just returned to competition after giving birth. She placed fourth recently at a meet in Austria but reached the qualifying mark for Rio.
She is now free to concentrate, without any added pressures, on training to defend her title won at the London Games. Shouldn’t Jones, if her mark at the NCAA is verified, not be allowed the same conditions, based on funds available, to prepare the best she can without being forced to prove herself all over again in 2016?
I believe that after Jones competes at this weekend’s National Championships, we should all get on board and make life as easy as possible for her leading up to Rio.
While there are rules to be observed, there should also be room for flexibility and discretion, particularly in a jurisdiction where genuine medal prospects are few and especially in a case like Jones who won the world junior heptathlon title last year.
• Andi Thornhill is an experienced, award-winning sports journalist. Email: andithornhill1@gmail.com
