Wilson confident despite absence of stars

Jamaica's athletes will bow into action at tomorrow's third staging of the International Association of Athletics Federations World Relay Championships at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.

Jamaica's 41 athletes are headed by 2011 100m World champion Yohan Blake and 2016 Olympic sprint-double champion Elaine Thompson.

The action is set to get under way with the heats of the women's 4x200m. This will be followed by the heats of the men's 4x100m.The Jamaicans will also compete in the men's and women's 4x400m relays as well as a mixed 4x400m relay.

The final of the women's 4x200m relays as well as men's 4x100m relays will be contested later in the night after the heats.

Jamaica are defending the women's 4x100m and the men's 4x200m relay titles won in 2015.

Jamaica will be without the likes of sprint star Usain Bolt, along with Asafa Powell, Julian Forte, Rusheen McDonald, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Veronica Campbell-Brown, but despite their absence, technical director Maurice Wilson said he expects the team to do well.

"When you are in track and field, these are some of the unexpected situations you will encounter and we just have to deal with it," he said.

"We have a talented team and I am confident that they will do us proud in The Bahamas," Wilson stated.

SECOND-PLACE FINISH

The Jamaicans contingent finished second overall in the team's standings in the last edition in 2015 behind champions the USA, who garnered 63 points to Jamaica's 46, with Poland third on 34 points.

In the 4x200 metres squad, Thompson is accompanied by Samantha Henry-Robinson, Anastacia Le-Roy, Jura Levy, Dawnalee Loney and Audra Segree.

The members of the women's 4x400m squad are Verone Chambers, Christine Day, Shericka Jackson, Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby, Stephenie Ann McPherson and Janieve Russell.

There will also be a mixed (men and women) 4x400m squad and this includes Natoya Goule, Jaheel Hyde, Tiffany James, Martin Manley, Jamari Rose and Ristananna Tracey.

Blake will lead the 4x100m relay team that comprises Kemar Bailey-Cole, Everton Clarke, Julian Forte and Jevaughn Minzie.

Olympic bronze medallist Warren Weir will head Jamaica's 4x200m team that includes Nickel Ashmeade, Oshane Bailey, Rasheed Dwyer, Nigel Ellis, Chadic Hinds and Warren Weir.

Meanwhile, the 4x400m contingent includes Javere Bell, Javon Francis, Demish Gaye, Steven Gayle and Peter Matthews.