In this file photo, Jamaica's Julian Forte reacts after competing in the men's 200m heats during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 3, 2021.
May 11, 2025
For the second straight day, the Jamaican men’s 4x100m team’s attempt to qualify for the World Athletics Championships was met with disaster as Julian Forte pulled up on the second leg in their second round race at the World Relays in Guangzhou, China on Sunday.
Forte appeared to suffer an injury before handing off the baton to third leg runner Yohan Blake and, despite bravely still trying to complete the hand-off, was unable to make the exchange.
Jamaica’s attempt to qualify in Saturday’s first round ended similarly with a mistimed exchange between Forte and Blake, as they leave Guangzhou with nothing to show despite having on paper one of the strongest teams in the championships.
The Jamaican coaches had opted for the same team that ran in the first round with Rohan Watson leading off, to Forte, with Blake on the third leg and Olympic Games men’s 100m silver medallist Kishane Thompson on anchor.
Neither Blake nor Thompson got the opportunity to run at the championships.