A Record 7 Jamaican-Born Runners in the Olympic 100-Meter Semi-Final Round

Although only three athletes may represent any one country in an event at the Olympic Games, a total of seven individuals competing in the semi-finals of the 100-meters in Rio on August 14, 2016, were born in Jamaica. Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Nickel Ashmeade will be competing for Jamaica proper in the event; all have qualified for the first round. Kemarley Brown and Andrew Fisher will represent Bahrain, being cleared to do so by the IAAF in July 2016. The two runners competed for St. Elizabeth Technical High School and were members of the University of Technology Jamaica team in 2015 before applying for citizenship in Bahrain. Additionally, Jak Ali Harvey, who formerly known as Jacques Harvey, will compete for Turkey, Asuka Antonio “Aska” Cambridge will run for Japan, and Akeen Haynes will represent Canada in the event. In the 4×100-meter relay, Jamaican-born Emre Zafer Barnes will compete for Turkey. Aaron Brown and Brendan Rodney, who both have at least one Jamaican parent, will compete for Canada in 100 meters and the sprint relay, respectively. Harvey attended Wolmer’s Boys’ School and Rusea’s High School, and Barnes attended Jamaica College, just missing being a member of Jamaica’s team in the 2008 Olympics.