by Sherrylyn A. Toppin

Three-time national champion Jade Bailey became the seventh Barbadian to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games last week in Guadeloupe.

However, she will have to go head-to-head against fellow qualifier Shakera Reece at the National Championships to see who gets the spot if neither runs an A qualifying time of 11.32 seconds or faster.

Competing at the Guadeloupe Grand Prix on May Day, Bailey was fifth in the 100 metres in 11.38 seconds, a B qualifying standard. She advanced from the heats with a time of 11.56 and overcame a slight hamstring injury to post the time.

American Torri Edwards, the 2003 100 metres world champion, won the race in 11.10 seconds. Compatriot Stephanie Durst was second in 11.19 and Jamaica's 2006 Commonwealth Games 100 metres champion Sheri-Ann Brooks third in 11.22.

Nipped on line

Bailey was just nipped on the line by American Wyllesheia Myricks who was timed in 11.37 seconds. She joins 400-metres hurdler Andrea Blackett, sprint hurdler Ryan M. Brathwaite, and fellow 100-metres sprinters Andrew Hinds and Reece as the qualifiers from track and field.

Swimmers Bradley Ally and Andrei Cross round out the list of qualifiers.

Bailey has been making strides since winning a Central American And Caribbean bronze medal in 2006. She had a successful tour of Europe last year at some of the minor meets and advanced to the semi-finals of the 100 metres at the Pan Am Games, again with an injury.

National record-holder Henderson Dottin was second in the men's high jump, clearing 2.19 metres.

Nationals vital

Esther Maynard, president of the Amateur Athletics Association, told SUNSPORT this year's National Championships would be especially significant for Bailey and Reece, the 2007 CARIFTA Games 100-metre champion who is based at Rice University, Texas. Her qualifying time was 11.34 seconds at those games, but she was injured last year and is fighting to regain form.

"They have to go head-to-head at Nationals. They've done the times under different conditions, so they have to do them under the same conditions. We also can't have two 'B' qualifying times, nor can there be an 'A' and a "B" time," Maynard said.

"Once you have an 'A' qualifier, that seals the fate of any other "B" qualifier in that event, but we can only have one person per event for 'B' standards."

While Maynard is pleased with the number of qualifiers from her sport, she hopes all of the athletes improve their times as the August 8 to 24 games draw closer.

"There is still plenty of time. There are others out there trying to qualify, so the door hasn't been shut. We hope there will also be an improvement in the times they've done so far. The qualifying time is just a means of getting in to compete, but if they want to do well, they have to raise the standard," she said.