There are few notable absences on this year's team, including Tyler Christopher, a former world bronze medallist in the 400 metres (hamstring injury), veteran middle-distance runner Kevin Sullivan, who has been on every world championship team since 1993 (torn Achilles tendon) and heptathlete Jessica Zelinka, fifth at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, who is sitting out the season after giving birth to her first child.[1][failed verification]