Three Jamaican athletes seek to run for another country

Shericka Williams

Kingston (Jamaica), July 22 (IANS)

Olympic silver medallist Shericka Williams is among three Jamaican athletes who are seeking to compete for oil rich Bahrain.

The Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) confirmed that it has received applications seeking a change of allegiance from Williams, Kemarley Brown and Andrew Fisher, reports CMC.

Brown, a sprinter, won silver at the just concluded World University Games while Andrew Fisher was fifth at the National Trials in June in 100 metres and was in line to represent Jamaica in the men's sprint relay pool at next month's World Championships.

Williams qualified for the women's 400m final at the National Trials in June but did not turn up for the final.

JAAA's General Secretary Garth Gayle says the release of the athletes was approved and that document has been sent to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) for approval. The three Jamaican athletes will have to wait a year from the date of approval before they can represent their new country, once the IAAF approves the switch.

Jamaican sprinter Jacques Harvey recently started to compete for his new country Turkey under the name Jak Ali Harvey while his countryman, quarter-miler Brandon Simpson made a similar switch and represented Bahrain.