World Championships gold medal winner, Veronica Campbell-Brown, is definitely out of the women's 100 metres at the 29th Olympiad, Jamaican team officials announced Tuesday.
Campbell-Brown failed to secure an automatic slot in the event after finishing fourth at the Jamaica trials in June, thus only making her an alternative behind Kerron Stewart (10.80), Shelly Ann Fraser (10.85) and Sherone Simpson (10.87). Her time was 10.88.
Call for replacement Following the shocking result, there were almost immediate calls for the 26-year-old, who has set the world alight thereafter, to replace one of the trio in Beijing.
Yet, despite her form this season and her ability to produce at the top level, the defending Olympic bronze medallist will not make an appearance in the event.
According to Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association rules, the top three finishers earn the right to represent the country should they maintain their form going into the Games. And given the recent form of the trio, who have all dipped under 11 seconds after the trials, administrators had no choice but to keep them.
This now means that Campbell-Brown will have to focus her attention on defending her 200 metres title against a confident American Allyson Felix, who totally outpaced her at the World Championships in Osaka last summer.
Heading into the Olympics, the Jamaican has been bang on form in the event, running two of the three sub-21 seconds times for the year.
The other performer below the mark this season is compatriot Stewart, who blasted to a career best of 21.99 seconds to finish second at the Jamaica championships.
Campbell-Brown will also run as a member of a powerful Jamaican 4x100 metres quartet, favoured to strike gold and defend their 2004 title.