Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Sherone Simpson - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Last year when Sherone Simpson was running up a storm, if she was told she would not win the World Championships sprint double or not be part of Jamaica's team to Osaka, Japan, this year, everyone would have disagreed.

After a successful 2006 where she ran 22.00-flat twice over 200 metres and 10.82 over 100 metres - the fastest times in the last three seasons - Simpson, after three races in 2007, is resting her hopes on the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) for inclusion on the national team for the 11th World Championships.

"It's (Sherone's selection) still in the hands of the selectors," Simpson's manager Paul Doyle told The Gleaner in an interview by phone yesterday.

"We are completely at their liberty and we stand by whatever their decision is, but Sherone still does want to go to Osaka," said Doyle.

Simpson ran seven of the 10 fastest 100m times - all sub-11 clockings - last year. She also registered three of the five top 200m times.

Hip injury

Her form was affected badly this season though as Simpson picked up a hip injury at the Oslo Golden League on June 15 - a week before the National Championships (June 22-24).

She missed the National Championships because of that injury and has only run three times in the last three months and her times have not been impressive - 11.64 (Oslo), 11.75 (Monaco) and 11.61 yesterday in Stockholm.

According to Doyle, "there is no one that is more upset about her performance than herself".

Once an athlete meets the international qualifying standard, the top two finishers at the National Championships are guaranteed an automatic spot in individual events at the World Champs. The JAAA, in extenuating circumstances, may grant the third spot based on its criteria.

The rule states: "Athletes with top three world ranking who are ill or injured at the time of the National Championships may still be considered for selection, but they must prove their world ranking form prior to the final submission of the entries for the competition."

Doyle called the entire situation unfortunate.

Deadline

"It's unfortunate the Worlds comes up this quick and she had a deadline she had to make ... it's a shame she ran out of time."

He added that Simpson is not injured, "it's just taking her a while to get back in the swing of things with her confidence".

However, all is not lost as the JAAA appears ready to grant Simpson every chance, right up to the 11th hour.

Teddy McCook, who is the chairman of the JAAA's selection committee, believes a decision on Simspon's fate could not be made until August 13th, which is the deadline for the final submission to the IAAF.

"We don't know if she has a competition by now and the 13th, so there is no way the JAAA would make any decision or judgement base off today's result," he said in an interview with The Gleaner yesterday.

"They have until the 13th to prove their fitness, which still gives her the opportunity to quality," he added.

There are no other grand prix events scheduled between now and the World Champs.