JAAA NEEDS TO SHED LIGHT ON MORGAN’S NON-SELECTION FOR MOSCOW
The best discus thrower from the United States this year is Jarred Rome who threw 63.59 metres on May 11. That’s more than two months ago and almost two months after Jason Morgan threw 65.94m at a meet in Ruston, Louisiana.
The latter’s mark is still the best by a Jamaican or a US thrower with the IAAF World Athletic Championships less than two weeks away. The ‘B’ qualifying standard for the discus is 64m while the ‘A’ standard is 66m. Yet Morgan, who is only six centimetres shy of the A standard will not be representing the country of his birth because – based on reports – he missed the national championships in June because he was being sworn in as a citizen of the United States, a country in which he and his family have called home for more than a decade.
Yet, because he missed the national championships Morgan, who going forward has the option of representing the United States at future track and field events, will not represent Jamaica in Moscow. All that the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association would say is that Morgan’s reason for missing the championships was not sufficient but it has a hollow ring to it and here’s why. If Morgan is being forthright and his documents were not in his possession then there was no way he would have been able to travel to Jamaica to participate in the championships so for them to say that that is not a good enough reason makes one wonder just how Morgan would have been able to board a flight to Jamaica from Louisiana if he was not in possession of his travel documents.
It is on that basis that the JAAA’s reason for his non-selection doesn’t wash.
Being a US citizen also does not preclude Morgan from selection. Felix Sanchez was born in the US but represents the Dominican Republic by choice on the global stage. Besides, a great of number of Jamaican athletes either have green cards or are on the verge of becoming US citizens. So that also cannot be a reason for his non-selection.
Morgan is easily Jamaica’s best discus thrower this year. Traves Smikle, the national record holder, has been plagued by injury and now faces a probable suspension for ingesting something that saw him return an adverse finding. Chad Wright, the 2013 national champion, has also failed to get the B standard to compete in Moscow, so why then is Morgan not going to be on that plane?
If the JAAA’s executive knows something that we don’t they need to say because right now they are looking like an arrogant organisation that ignores the fact that without the athletes they matter very little to anyone. Morgan can be an inspiration to emerging Jamaican throwers and to exclude him from the national team can potentially be harmful to the development of a discipline that has made significant gains in the past four years.
That cannot be the objective of the JAAA.
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27 Responses to “JAAA NEEDS TO SHED LIGHT ON MORGAN’S NON-SELECTION FOR MOSCOW”
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It is simple a case of one man thinking he is the world when it comes to Jamaican athletics.
I am now wondering what Michael Frater is thinking. He is supposed to be the voice and conscience of the athletes butt hey seem worse off now
Why didn’t they add Jason Young to the team? He is good turn runner and would make a good backup for the 100M relay, even to run the heats. So far the relay heats layout looks sketchy.
T&F is our most successful sport and the JAAA must take some credit for that. Sometimes though, they make you wonder if we do well because of them or in spite of them, you know what i mean?
And oftentimes, it’s some simple things. Kenia Sinclair, our lone contender in the 800 & 1500 for years now, gets no respect from them and what does that take? An email, a phone call?
That Warren Blake just comes across as a cold hearted person in my view. You all damn well treat our athletes with reverence because they uplift the nation and we love them, oh.
Dr Warren Blake has to go. He is going to destroy Track & Field in Jamaica if given the chance. And he can take Dr Herb Elliott with him on his way out, for he is doing the same thing to JADCO.
We do well in spite of the jaaa + 40 years of the tired leadership
These are the same people in my humble opinion who kept on selecting Ottey to years after her prime
Same dodo different day
The JAAA DONT need to shed light on anything they choose to do. A them name Jesus. You guys didnt know that The “J” in JAAA stands for Jesus.
For years I have been observing the JAAA, it has become a very autocratic body,I have have to wonder whoes intrest do they have at heart, could it be that of there own ?
What is all the fuss about like Sandie Richards and other Mr. Morgan should now apply to be on the US team. Jamaica is an ungrateful place. We honour our athletes by having become homeless street person selling bag juice at stop lights.
Yeeeeaahhh! J for Jesus., Luv it.
When did Jason Morgan knew he had his swearing in? Did he alert the JAAA of a possible conflict when he was notified of his swearing in date? From personal experience, albeit in a different state, you are provided with your swear-in date at least one month in advance, not ten days, not five days. I’m not saying the JAAA couldn’t have made an exception in this case, but again, WHEN were they notified? The day of the start of the trials? Let’s get some clear answers before we start the crucifixion.
In regards to Kenia’s situation, no sah, head ahfi roll fi dah one deh. Simply responding to an email can’t be THAT hard yow, come on now.
Are you people out of your mind. Jason Morgan knew of his the “Swearing-In-Ceremony” probably in May, not in June. Who Jason Morgan is trying to fool, like he is the only one person who ever attended a US Citizen Swearing in Session. If he had told them at the ceremony he could have gotten an emergency Letter and a temporary passport along with the Naturalization certificate. At the end of the swearing in session they ask you if you wand to change your name or if you have any prior travel arrangements.
He wanted an out not to represent Jamaica in the future, because the representation for field events is not strong. He got his wish. So now he can go represent the United States.
Blaming JAAA is ludicrous, when certain athletes have personal issues, because they did not train hard enough, they blame JAAA, which has rules and regulations as sport governing body.
Some Jamaican athletes want JAAA to make exceptions base on name recognition and not performance. Trials mean trials “hands down” people, if you don’t show-up you don’t go.
In America if an athlete don’t show-up for a USTAF Championship Trials, that athlete does not make the team. It’s that simple. If and when Jason Morgan join USTAF he will have to follow their rules, no if nor but.
So people stop bashing the JAAA. What you Guys are talking about is corruption, give Jason Morgan a Free Ride. Stop It.
Trials mean appear and perform, no appearance means no selection for the team, no matter what your prior performance before Trials.
The JAAA do not need to comment further on the Morgan issue as the rules are clear. Morgan need to come clean and speak the truth on this situation. What was published previously was totally false and Morgan is the one who needs to come clean and clear up this unfortunate incident.
The rule is that you cannot represent the country if you do not take part in the national championship. This is the same rule in the USA no matter who you are.
The trials must mean something!
Even the great Usain Bolt had to turn up for trials.
The JAAA must not be run like a fry-fish shop to cater to those who show scant regards for its rules and authority.
Morgan’s excuse by no stretch can be seen as good enough.
If I recall when I was given the day for my swearing in, I had more than 30 days notice – swearing was in April and I got notice in February. He also mentioned that his passport and green card were taken. Not true, my green card was taken the at the swearing in and replaced with naturalization certificate. He could use that as his proof for travel. He is the one that need to come clean and stop making up stories. There are enough of us naturalized US citizens who know what he is saying is not true.
You people need to stop bashing Jason Morgan and trying to be immigration consultants. NO ONE can travel out of the US without a passport and the time one gets called for a US citizenship swearing-in varies in almost all cases. There is no fixed or set time to be sworn in. It can take a few days or as much as four months for one to be called for the ceremony. You all sound a little bad-minded!! I would rather have one less official and find space for another medal prospect like Morgan on the team.
The JAAA did almost exactly the same thing to Dwight Mullings a few years ago. Mulling had sent his passport to Jamaica months in advance for renewal, the process was delayed through no fault of his own and the JAAA did nothing to assist, eventually contacting Mullings two days before the start of trials.
Ashley Gordon, Carmaleta Jetter did not take part in the US trials, but she heads the us contingent to Moscow.
JAAA Jesus Amasing Almighty Almighty
Jeter is the defending world champion, she didnt need to be at the US trials.
If he was a sprinter, no questions would be asked.
The rules are clear. If you miss the trials you have to submit a medical and also be in the top three for there to be consideration. The greatest athlete of all time Usain Bolt has to follow the rules, Shelly Ann follow the rules so why must we excuse Morgan.
We in Jamaica like to get all excited and emotional and dont stick to the facts
lorenzo bartlett said it all above. Morgan messed up and JAAA didn’t bail him out, that’s it.
Gene Blackwood — Leave Merlene out of this. She is the greatest female sprinter ever (20+ years of being ranked in the top 5) with no drugs. Even past her prime she was JA best female sprinter. She got a deserved pass to her last Olympic, which she deserved, having given up millions to continue representing us. FYI — Merlene is still competing at major European meets for her adopted country of Slovenia.
If Usain or Shelly Ann didn’t perform at the trials but then broke the world records a week after in the Diamond League, places would have been provided for them on the team. Parchment got in but no one knows how fit he is, the JAAA better pray that he makes the final of the 110 hurdles. Different rules apply to different people, unfortunately field events do not get any respect and Jason Morgan is not a big name in the eyes of the JAAA.
Parchment was ranked one in the world when he picked up his injury at trials. The JAAA is allowed to make a medical exception in his case and they have so that was a bad example to use.
We are so embroiled in corruption that we have difficulty deciphering truth from fiction. All kinds of innuendos are being made here and the fact is Jason’s reason for not attending the trial was not sufficient for him to get a pass. Parchment was at the trial and picked up an injury there. There was an outcry regarding the condition at the practice field that contributed to his injury. Why the JAAA would not want to appease this unfortunate situation. I maintain that the date for the trial was known months before and he had ample time to reschedule his appointment if he truly wanted to compete. Let’s call a spade a spade – he fouled up. Be a man and admit instead of blaming others.
JAAA deserves NO CREDIT for Jamica’s athletics success. All they basically do is paper shuffling. They add no value to the Jamaican economy, its the athletes and coaches who do. JAAA are a bunch of glorified clerks