Tristan Evelyn heading to the Olympics

The winds of fortune have smiled upon the fastest female sprinter in Barbados, Tristan Evelyn.

At age 26, Evelyn is expected to rewrite her formal resume as a two-time Olympian for Barbados after receiving an invitation by the World Athletics governing body to compete at the Olympic Games in France later this month.

This coveted invitation came as a result of Evelyn’s ranking at position No. 55, making up the World Athletics quota of 56 spots for the women’s 100 metres at the Paris Olympics. Jamaica’s three-time national champion and Olympic medallist Shericka Jackson has the number one spot.

Each participating International Olympic Committee member country is afforded three mandatory automatic qualification spots in the event. Therefore, Evelyn’s world ranking points of 1 206 were considered, thus earning her the invitation to compete.

While World Athletics has extended this invitation for Evelyn with a season’s best of 11.30 seconds achieved last month at the Dasani-Powerade Barbados National Championships, it remains to be seen what decision will be taken by the hierarchy of the Barbados Olympic Association as well as the Athletics Association of Barbados (AAB).

Evelyn, a former student of Springer Memorial Secondary School, a renowned breeding ground for athletic talent, is now set to make her second Olympic appearance for Barbados, having previously competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (ML)

Subscribe now to our eNATION edition for the full story.

For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOS and Android.