The Jamaica Olympics Association (JOA) will be sending 63 members of Team Jamaica to 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro August 5-21. Among these athletes are the 4 who applied for medical exemption Usain Bolt, Elaine Thompson, Janieve Russell and Hansle Parchment. ATHLETICS Women – 32 Elaine Thompson – 100m, 200m, 4X100m relay Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – 100m, 4x100m relay Christania Williams – 100m, 4x100m relay Shashalee Forbes – 4X100m relay Simone Facey – 200m, 4x100m relay Veronica Campbell-Brown – 200m, 4x100m relay Kali Davis-White –-200m Stephanie McPherson – 400m, 4x400m relay Christine Day – 400m, 4x400m relay Shericka Jackson – 400m, 4x400m relay Novelene Williams-Mills – 4x400m relay Anneisha McClaughlin-Wilby – 4x400m relay Chrisann Gordon – 4x400m relay Natoya Goule – 800m Kenia Sinclair – 800m Simoya Campbell – 800m Aisha Praught – 1500m Megan Simmonds – 100m hurdles Shermaine Williams – 100m hurdles Nickeisha Wilson – 100m hurdles Monique Morgan – 100m hurdles Ristananna Tracey – 400m hurdles Leah Nugent – 400m hurdles Kaliese Spencer – 400m hurdles Janieve Russell – 400m hurdles Kimberly Williams – triple jump Shanecka Thomas – Triple jump Tarasue Barnett – Discus Shadae Lawrence- Discus Kellion Knibb – Discus Danniel […]
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Virgin Media’s new ad is about what it feels like to experience speed, at a physical and emotional level. When Usain Bolt broke the world 100m record he did it in an incredible 9.58 seconds. The ad re-creates that experience, over and over again and with increasing excitement. It describes the feeling of running at such speed from different and varied perspectives. ‘9.58 seconds’ informs the structure of the ad. It is a modular piece, made up of ten 9.58 second sequences. It attempts to lift the lid on the real Bolt. It shows the ‘overwhelming rush of hurt’ he describes when talking about his training schedule, the impact his achievement had on adoring fans, the healthy Jamaican diet he grew up on, the gaming arcades he spent his childhood in and the Jamaican dance culture he is still a part of. For more information visit: http://www.virginmedia.com/vivid
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The Reggae Girlz spent some time with International Football Streetstyle Champion Sean Garnier. Sean was on tour in Jamaica for the Red Bull Streetstyle Football Championship Qualifiers. The Girlz had a wonderful time with Sean and challenged him on his style. They put on a show for Sean and he was very impressed. Info and photos via Jamaica
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The withdrawal of Sprint King Usain Bolt from the Jamaica National Senior Track and Field Championships, the primary Olympic trials for the powerhouse Caribbean island has not gone unnoticed by the top sprinters from perennial rivals the United States. When news broke of the six time Olympic Gold medalists withdrawal due to injury concerns and a medical exemption from the governing body Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association (JAAA) several of the top sprinters competing at the US Trials underway in Eugene, Oregon were asked to give their views on the latest Bolt development. “Its a tradition….It doesn’t surprise me. I know he is going to come back strong “, said Tyson Gay, subtly making reference to Bolt’s injury history. Justin Gatlin, Bolt’s main rival over the last few years jokingly told reporters that Trayvon Bromell, the 2015 World Championship Bronze medalist would answer all questions relating to Bolt. Gatlin who was twice beaten into second place by the Jamaican at the Beijing World championship last year was asked if he thought that Bolt would not be able to defend his titles in Rio said , ‘Come on man…it’s Usain…we are going to see his face in Rio”. Gatlin went […]
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The medical exemption ‘bug’ which has been one of the biggest talking points of the 2016 JAAA/Supreme Ventures Jamaica National Senior Track and Field Championships bit again. This time it was the defending champion Elaine Thompson who was forced to withdraw from the event with what MVP President Bruce James indicated was some discomfort in her leg. Thompson who on Friday night won the 100m in a world leading and national record equaling 10.70 was the big favourite to complete the sprint double. James further indicated that Thompson was examined by the medical team in charge of the meet and had applied for a medical exemption. The 2015 World Championship Silver medalist and 2nd fastest Jamaican in history is the number 4 ranked sprinter over the distance in 2016. While the JAAA Selection Policy speaks to a top 3 world ranking as it relates to the medical exemption, the Selection Criteria covers a ranking period that extends back to 2015. Thompson, by virtue of the 21.66 run in the finals of the 200m in Beijing would still be ranked at number 2 behind Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was also a no show […]
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In 2011 while comfortably in the lead in the U17 Boys 200m at the CARIFTA Games held at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex, the then 15 year old Jevaughn Minzie displayed one of the most extreme cases of showboating ever seen at that level. With 50m to go, Minzie who appeared to have the race at his mercy, inexplicably turned his head and mockingly beckoned the 400m champion Machel Cedenio who was on his outside. That moment of madness would come back to haunt him within seconds as the far striding Cedenio gleefully grasped the opportunity with both hands to sweep past Minzie who totally lost momentum. The visibly stunned and shaken Minzie was rooted to the track before sauntering off. The Jamaican supporters at the venue had no qualms about venting their frustration at him. Various videos were posted about the young man’s slip, social media went into overdrive and he was the subject of much criticisms on various sports talk shows in the ensuing weeks. He was the butt of many a joke and one Youtube video of the race had the heading “USAIN BOLT WANNABE JEVAUGHN MINZIE EMBARRASSED HIMSELF SHOWBOATING IN 200m CARIFTA GAMES FINAL”. […]
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The trio of women’s Discus national record holder Kellion Knibb, Tara Sue Barnett and Shadae Lawrence have created a first in Jamaica’s already rich history of track and field. When the three don the famous black, green and gold at the Rio Olympics in just over a month, it will mark the first time that Jamaica will be represented by three ladies in a throwing event. Knibb, Barnett and Lawrence all attained the Olympic qualifying mark ahead of the JAAA/ Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships but had to cement their place on the team by grabbing the podium spots at the Jamaican Olympic Trials. Barnett who attends Grand Canyon University threw the Olympic qualifying standard on April 30 with a personal best of 61.28m. The 22 year old was not in that sort of form on Friday evening but bested a strong field to win the event with a mark of 59.03m. (Photo: Ross Obley/FSU Athletics) Lawrence, formerly of Hydel High School came into the trials on the back of a very good season for Kansas State University and a 4th place finish at the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships where she threw a personal best […]
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Toni-Ann Williams makes history as the first Jamaican gymnast to qualify for Olympics. With a strong performance Sunday at the Olympic test event, Cal gymnast Toni-Ann Williams qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Williams will be the first female gymnast to represent Jamaica at the Olympics. She finished 38th overall in the test event with a 52.931 total in the all-around. Her best score was a 14.066 on vault, which ranked 24th. She also finished in the top 35 on beam (13.666, 29th) and floor (13.366, 32nd). Williams earned an 11.833 on bars. “What an amazing accomplishment,” Cal and Jamaica head coach Justin Howell said in a news release. “It’s a little surreal at the moment, but we believed without a doubt that she would qualify.” Williams balanced her Olympic training with her responsibilities to Cal. The Randallstown, Md., native earned a pair of All-Pac-12 First Team honors, her second West Region Gymnast of the Year award and her fourth career Regular-Season All-America title. To compete at the Rio Olympic Test Event, she missed the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships. “The rigor of Cal prepares our student-athletes for excellence,” said Howell, who […]
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