Bolt leads Jamaica’s team

Kenyan hurdler Bett ruled out of Worlds

AFP, KINGSTON: Sprint superstar Usain Bolt is one of three Rio Olympic gold medalists leading a 59-strong Jamaican team named Monday for next month's athletics World Championships in London.

Bolt has said he intends to run the 100m and the 4x100m relay at the worlds, his final event before retiring.

He's one of two reigning world champions, along with sprint hurdler Danielle Williams, who will be defending titles they won in China two years go.

Elaine Thompson, who won the Olympic Sprint double last year in Rio, and Omar McLeod -- the first man for the Caribbean island to win Olympic 110m hurdles gold -- are also in the team published by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association.

The team also includes sprint hurdler Hansle Parchment, shot putter O'Dayne Richards and 400m runner Shericka Jackson -- all individual medalists in Beijing two years ago.

Fedrick Dacres, the second ranked male discus thrower in the world, will attend his second World Championships.

Meanwhile, champion hurdler Sally Pearson and walker Jared Tallent headlined a 48-strong Australian team announced Tuesday for next month's world athletics championships in London.

The country's largest world title squad since Seville in 1999 includes 20 debutants from the Olympic Games in Rio last year.

“It ensures that we are likely to see a competitive few months ahead as athletes seek nomination for selection to the Australia Commonwealth Games Team,” Athletics Australia said.

The Commonwealth Games next year are on home soil at the Gold Coast. Australia won two silvers at the last world championships in Beijing two years ago -- Tallent in the 50km walk and Fabrice Lapierre in the long jump.

Another report adds From Nairobi: Nicholas Bett, Kenya's first world 400m hurdles champion, will miss next month's London world athletics championships after suffering a stress fracture to the shin.

Bett was forced to skip the Kenyan national trials on June 22-23 in Nairobi to seek treatment in Finland, but was included in the team by virtue of being the defending champion. “It is disappointing that I will not be defending my World title in London. I had prepared well to make up for the disappointment of the Rio Olympics where I went out in the first round,” Bett told AFP.

His manager Jukka Harkonen confirmed that Bett, who became the first Kenyan to win gold in sprint events at a World championships has a serious fracture to his fibula bone.

“We took a high quality MRI on June 8 and it was discovered Bett had a serious stress fracture,” Harkonen told the Kenyan Daily Nation newspaper.

“It's after he started to jog that the pain recurred and that is why we decided to have another MRI scan on June 31 in Lahti, Finland. He won't be able to compete at that level in London since it will be risky and the possibility of breaking the fibula bone is too big.”

Kenya's hopes were shattered further when Olympic 400m hurdles silver medallist Boniface Mucheru pulled out of his race in Modova, Italy last Sunday and remains doubtful for the world championships.

Bolt leads Jamaicas team

Kenyan hurdler Bett ruled out of Worlds

AFP, KINGSTON: Sprint superstar Usain Bolt is one of three Rio Olympic gold medalists leading a 59-strong Jamaican team named Monday for next months athletics World Championships in London. Bolt has said he intends to run the 100m and the 4x100m relay at the worlds, his final event before retiring. Hes one of two reigning world champions, along with sprint hurdler Danielle Williams, who will be defending titles they won in China two years go. Elaine Thompson, who won the Olympic Sprint double last year in Rio, and Omar McLeod -- the first man for the Caribbean island to win Olympic 110m hurdles gold -- are also in the team published by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association. The team also includes sprint hurdler Hansle Parchment, shot putter ODayne Richards and 400m runner Shericka Jackson -- all individual medalists in Beijing two years ago. Fedrick Dacres, the second ranked male discus thrower in the world, will attend his second World Championships. Meanwhile, champion hurdler Sally Pearson and walker Jared Tallent headlined a 48-strong Australian team announced Tuesday for next months world athletics championships in London. The countrys largest world title squad since Seville in 1999 includes 20 debutants from the Olympic Games in Rio last year. It ensures that we are likely to see a competitive few months ahead as athletes seek nomination for selection to the Australia Commonwealth Games Team, Athletics Australia said. The Commonwealth Games next year are on home soil at the Gold Coast. Australia won two silvers at the last world championships in Beijing two years ago -- Tallent in the 50km walk and Fabrice Lapierre in the long jump. Another report adds From Nairobi: Nicholas Bett, Kenyas first world 400m hurdles champion, will miss next months London world athletics championships after suffering a stress fracture to the shin. Bett was forced to skip the Kenyan national trials on June 22-23 in Nairobi to seek treatment in Finland, but was included in the team by virtue of being the defending champion. It is disappointing that I will not be defending my World title in London. I had prepared well to make up for the disappointment of the Rio Olympics where I went out in the first round, Bett told AFP. His manager Jukka Harkonen confirmed that Bett, who became the first Kenyan to win gold in sprint events at a World championships has a serious fracture to his fibula bone. We took a high quality MRI on June 8 and it was discovered Bett had a serious stress fracture, Harkonen told the Kenyan Daily Nation newspaper. Its after he started to jog that the pain recurred and that is why we decided to have another MRI scan on June 31 in Lahti, Finland. He wont be able to compete at that level in London since it will be risky and the possibility of breaking the fibula bone is too big. Kenyas hopes were shattered further when Olympic 400m hurdles silver medallist Boniface Mucheru pulled out of his race in Modova, Italy last Sunday and remains doubtful for the world championships.