MEDAL CAMPAIGN BEGINS - Jamaica’s track and field athletes start in nation’s podium-favoured events at Paris Olympics

PARIS, France:

Jamaica's track and field athletes will open their Olympic campaign, with action beginning at the Stade de France today where they are expected to garner medals.

The morning session will see national high jump champion and record holder Lamara Distin open her campaign in the women's high jump qualification; and the women's 100m heats, featuring two-time Olympic, and five-time World champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tia Clayton, and Shashalee Forbes, a last-minute replacement for Shericka Jackson.

The evening session will see Jamaica's relay pool in action in the mixed 4x400m qualification round at 12:10 p.m. (Jamaica time). This is the second time Jamaica will be attempting to earn an Olympic medal in the event since its debut at the Tokyo Games.

Olympic debutant Raheem Hayles says that belief is important for success, and remains confident in the abilities of his team to succeed.

"What is going to make the difference is everybody realising that they can because we have a good team. So if everyone just deeply realises that yes, we can, and put their best effort out there, I think that is going to make the difference," Hayles told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Andrenette Knight says that she is ready to help the team win, if and when called upon.

"I will do my job, I will do my part to put the team in the best position possible," Knight said.

Jamaica has only won one major global medal in the event, at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, in 2019.

The evening session for Jamaica will feature the women's triple jump qualification at 11:15 a.m. (Jamaica time). Two-time World Championship silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts and Kimberly Williams will compete in Group B, while Ackelia Smith will be making her Olympic debut in Group A.

National champion shot putter and record holder Rajindra Campbell will make his Olympic Games debut in the men's shot put qualification, which starts at 1:10 p.m. (Jamaica time). Campbell has a season's best throw of 22.16 metres, recorded last February.

He took a step forward in his career last year, making his first World Championships team and breaking the national record (22.22m). He excelled to make his first World Championships final, but failed to register a mark.

"Last year I wasn't ambitious enough. The goal for the season last year was to get to World Championships final, because when I started the season my personal best was 19.99. The national record was one of the goals, and the next was the World Championships finals. Once I achieved that, in a sense, my body shut down because we achieved the goals," Campbell told THE WEEKEND STAR. "When I got to the finals I was like, I should have aimed a little higher. So this year it's a different goal, different mindset."

The field's main gold medal contenders are two-time defending Olympic champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs, both from of the United States.

"Last year I wasn't strong, it was just all athletic ability. This year I tried to improve on certain areas. I think that I am in a very good position right now. I think I am one of the athletes they expect to be fighting for a medal," Campbell said. "Definitely, that is a mindset that I have been going in with and hopefully, the results will be in my favour."

If successful, Campbell would be the first Jamaican man competing in the shot put to win an Olympic medal.

Meanwhile, Samantha Hall will contest the women's discus qualification round at 11:55 a.m., while Natoya Goule Toppin and Adelle Tracey will begin their campaign in the women's 800m heats, at 12:45 p.m. Jamaica time.

Jamaica currently have an accumulated 88 Olympic medals, having won nine at the Tokyo Games in 2021.