Four Bajans for Worlds

Ryan Brathwaite is said to be in Canada training for the athletics World Championships. (FP)

(Barbados Nation) Defending champion Ryan Brathwaite will lead a four-member Barbados team to the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, from August 27 to September 4.

Five athletes had qualified, but hurdler Shane Brathwaite asked to be exempted after picking up an injury.
Brathwaite, the 110m hurdles champion, will be joined by Kierre Beckles (100m hurdles) as well as sprinters Andrew Hinds and Ramon Gittens.

Ryan Brathwaite is said to be in Canada training for the athletics World Championships. (FP)

Esther Maynard, president of the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA), told NATIONSPORTS on Wednesday that the four athletes were overseas training with their coaches.

Gittens was with the American team; Beckles had rejoined her coach at the University of South Carolina, and Hinds was in Europe with the MVP Club.

Brathwaite, whose form has been erratic this season, is reportedly in Canada training with Alwyn Babb.
Maynard said it was difficult to assess the athletes’ chances until she was able to see what form they showed when they arrived in Daegu, but they had also adopted a long-term view, looking towards the London 2012 Olympic Games.