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PRESIDENT OF the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Garth Gayle, is still positive that Jamaica's relay teams will attain the qualifying times for the Tokyo World Championships in September, despite failing to do so in two of the relays at last Saturday's inaugural Barbados Grand Prix meet.

The quartet of Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, Christopher Taylor, Odaine McPherson, and Kadrian Goldson won the men's 4x100-metre in 38.46 seconds, falling short of the 38.20 qualifying mark.

It was the same story in the Mixed 4x400m relay, as the quartet of Jeremy Bembridge, Shawna Kaye Anderson, Bovel McPherson, and Roneisha McGregor clocked 3:15.06 in their win -- well short of the 3:11.00 required and slower than their 3:14.42 effort at the World Relays in May.

"Despite not achieving our objectives, I am still pleased with the efforts from our athletes, as it is a young group of senior athletes who will take their places in the near future. It was good to see the camaraderie they showed at the end, congratulating each other," said Gayle.

The JAAA boss spoke about what's next for both teams, including the women's 4x400m group, which is also yet to meet the World Championships qualifying mark.

"Our next attempt at qualifying will be the London Diamond League on July 19, and we also have the NACAC Senior Championships next month.

"We are in rebuilding mode. We are building a cadre of sprinters that will hold their own in a short time. There is a changing of the guard gradually and this group is a part of this building block to ensure that at no point we are searching for people, as we will already have a group ready. At the end of the day, for me, this is a win-win situation and this is great," said Gayle.

Gayle, who was present at the meet on Saturday, spoke positively about its first staging.

"The meet was a success, and we are looking to see how we can work along with NACAC federations to build track and field in the region, as this will augur well for the future of the programmes," he continued.

"We were well received by the federation, and it is clear that unity is strength. It is good to expose our athletes to these types of competitions, as this is great going forward," said Gayle, indicating that there was discussion around creating a NACAC circuit in the future.

At the meet, Jamaica also competed in the women's 4x100m relay with the quartet of Jodean Williams, Joniel Smith, Serena Cole, and Krystal Sloley winning in 43.35.

What should have been a race against the Barbados became a one-team race, as a Barbadian athlete pulled up injured on the third leg, with the team failing to finish.