The affable and determined Simoya Campbell turned in a very good performance to finish 3rd in the 800m in a personal best 2.01.59 after coming into the final 150m a step or two behind the leaders before fading somewhat. The race was won in a world leading 1.59.35 by Rose Mary Almanza of Cuba ahead of compatriot and World Junior Silver medalist Sahily Diago (1.59.91 SB). Simoya Campbell was expected to give the fans at the Jamaica International Invitational something to cheer about. Fate intervened however and the former Spalding High School standout who is now in her 2nd year at the University of Technology (UTech) crashed to the ground after clipping heels with one of the athletes in the 800m event. It was not the first time that the 2015 INTERCOL triple Gold medalist was experiencing such disappointment and like she has always done, Campbell shed the tears and picked herself up, ready to fight another day. That day came on Saturday May 23 at the Ponce Grand Prix Meeting in Puerto Rico. [column2] [/column2][column2_last] [/column2_last] Campbell who was a member of Jamaica’s fledgling 4x800m team to the 2nd IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas is chasing the […]
Read More
Elaine Thompson delivered yet another brilliant performance at the National Stadium yesterday sending out a strong warning to rivals ahead of the National Senior Championships in just over a month. The rising sprint sensation out of UTech/MVP by way of Manchester High was again in awesome form as she spread-eagled the field to win the 200m in a personal best 22.37 (0.4 m/s) at the 2nd JAAAs All Comers Meet. Thompson who will turn 23 in late June had a previous best of 23.09 which she ran at a development meet in mid March. The 2015 INTERCOL champion who shares the world lead over 100m (10.92) with American Jenna Prandini is now the joint fastest Jamaican over the 200m, equaling the 22.37 set by 2013 IAAF World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce in her 3rd place effort at the Jamaica International Invitational World Challenge Meet in Kingston on May 9. Her time ranks her joint 5th with Fraser-Pryce in the world this year behind Allyson Felix (21.98), Shauna Miller (22.14) and the pair of Torie Bowie and Muriel Ahoure (22.29). Shericka Jackson, also of UTech was 2nd to Thompson in her heat and 2nd overall with a time of 23.03. Natasha […]
Read More
Veronica Campbell-Brown believes she will run faster than ever after enduring an ordeal she trusts no other athlete will have to suffer. The triple Olympic champion turned 33 last week but said her “best days are still ahead” now she has recovered from the traumatic episode which saw her pilloried as a drugs cheat before she was cleared of a potentially career-ending doping offense. “It was very unfair and I hope no athlete will ever go through what I went through,” Campbell-Brown reflected in an interview with Reuters after starting her 2015 campaign in impressive form in China. “It’s tough, especially when you know you’re innocent and your name has been dragged through the mud and people who had no clue were speaking evil stuff. “But people go to jail for crimes they didn’t commit. It’s part of life and I take my inspiration from those who have suffered at the hands of wickedness.” [column2] [/column2][column2_last] [/column2_last] Campbell-Brown received a two-year ban after testing positive for a banned diuretic in 2013 and says she went through an emotionally and financially crippling experience as she fought to clear her name. She even took and passed a lie detector test while her […]
Read More
Jamaica squad for Copa América 2015 Goalkeepers: Ryan Thompson (Pittsburgh Riverhounds) Duwayne Kerr (Sarpsborg 08) Dwayne Miller (Syrianska) Damion Hyatt (Arnett Gardens) Defenders: Wes Morgan (Leicester City) Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo) Michael Hector (Reading) Daniel Gordon (Karlsruher) Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace) Hughan Gray (Waterhouse FC) Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers) Richard Dixon (Charlotte Eagles) Kemar Lawrence (NY Red Bulls) Midfielders: Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas) Rodolph Austin (Leeds United) Joel Grant (Yeovil) Lance Laing (FC Edmonton) Garath McCleary (Reading) Shaun Cummings (Millwall) Jobi McAnuff (Leyton Orient) Omar Holness (UNC) Forwards: Allan Ottey (Mobay United) Michael Seaton (Orebro SK) Giles Barnes (Houston Dynamo) Darren Mattocks (Vancouver) Simon Dawkins (Derby County) Deshorn Brown (Valarenga) Romeo Parkes (Isidro Metapan) Andre Clennon (Arnett Gardens) Dino Williams (Mobay United) [column2] [/column2][column2_last] [/column2_last] Copa America 2015 Groups Source: Copa America 2015 Photo 1: jamaicafootballfederation.com Photo 2: Copa America 2015
Read More
Ahead of August’s World Championships, Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, shows no signs of slowing down. He talks exclusively to Kerry McCarthy about staying off the rum, securing his legacy and the one issue he can’t stay laid-back about… You’re 29 this year and you’ve been at the top a long time. Do you feel your age, and have you had to adapt? Thanks for reminding me I’m getting old! But I’ll have you know that every three months I visit a doctor in Germany for a full body MOT and I’ve not failed one yet. I’m finding the training harder because my coach is pushing me more than ever. Normally we break in slowly at the start of the season and build up, but this year coach has started me off doing more reps than before, each one faster and with less rest in-between. He wants to shock my body into adapting quicker now that it’s a bit older. I have scoliosis [curvature of the spine] so I also have to make sure I do all my core strength work. How did you cope with an injury-ravaged 2014, when you raced only twice? I was […]
Read More
Jamaicans Usain Bolt, Shevon Stoddart and Hansle Parchment in latest PUMA ads A long history of working with Jamaican athletes gave PUMA the perfect hot environment to test PWRCOOL as part of the development process. Olympic medalist Hansle Parchment said, “living and training in Jamaica is a wonderful thing, but the heat is challenging and at times pretty exhausting. PWRCOOL is a great technology to help counter that; it works well in both the shoes and training wear. I like it, the IGNITE PWRCOOL shoe is particularly cool.” These versions of IGNITE and Faas 500 v4 are equipped with ComfortTemp®, a thermoregulation material to help keep your body at an optimal temperature. Engineered for responsiveness, the all new IGNITE PWRCOOL maximizes energy to propel you forward. Past dropped jaws. Past your every notion of running. Supporting every stride is IGNITE FOAM, which provides responsive cushioning and maximum durability to push you past your limits. finish, Richard Thompson (10.04) was 5th while Daniel Bailey finished 6th in a season’s best 10.11. [column2] [/column2][column2_last] [/column2_last] The Faas 500 v4 PWRCOOL is also upgraded. With a FaasFoam+ midsole material combined with a full EverTrack+ outsole for a superior cushioned […]
Read More
The crowd turned up in their numbers and was treated to an evening of world class action by the plethora of stars on display at the 12th staging of the Jamaica International Invitational now a staple on the IAAF World Challenege Meet Calendar. Every event delivered as expected with 5 world leading marks, one world lead equaling run and several other statement performances. The Real Deal – Thompson beats Okagbare and Felix Elaine ‘Slimmaz’ Thompson looked very nervous before the start of the 100m and one could understand why. The joint world leader was up against some international hot-steppers including double Commonwealth Games Sprint Champion and 2013 World Championship Bronze medalist Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria and 2012 Olympic finalist over the 100m and Olympic champion over 200m Allyson Felix of the USA. The usually fast starting Thompson was not the best away but was up with the leaders Felix, Natasha Morrison and Okagbare before lengthening her strides impressively in the last 20m to win going away in a decent 10.97 (0.2 m/s). Okagbare was 2nd in 11.05 and Felix 3rd in 11.09. Jeneba Tarmoh (11.18), Morrison (11.22), Schillonie Calvert (11.23) and Kerron Stewart (11.24) rounded out the […]
Read More
Some say the women’s 400m will be the most exciting race at the Jamaica International Invitational World Challenge Meet at the National Stadium in Kingston on May 9. Others will disagree perhaps casting their ballots for the men’s 200m, the women’s 200m , the men’s 100m or even the star studded Shot Put. So good will the action be that any of those events along with maybe two or three others on paper could hold bragging rights as the event those who will be at the stadium or following in cyberspace are most anticipating. So stellar are the fields that some are taking on the appearance of what many envisage the lineups will be at the World Championships later this year in Beijing, minus one or two of the world’s greats. Many are keen to see what Team Jamaica’s finest will show the world. The likes of breakout schoolboy star quarter-miler Akeem Bloomfield, the phenomenal Javon Francis, new sensation Elaine Thompson, the much improved Megan Simmonds and Julian Forte are just a few of the young luminaries Jamaicans are eager to see match their immense talent against some of the best local and international stars. The women’s […]
Read More
American sprint relay anchor Ryan Bailey has graced the National Stadium track in Kingston in the past and if things go according to plan will do so again at the Jamaica International Invitational World Challenge meet on Saturday, May 9. Bailey who weeks ago confirmed his participation, is likely to contest the 100m where he will face rivals including Asafa Powell. After his post 4x100m relay theatrics at the World Relays, one wonders if he will receive a ‘warm’ Jamaican welcome. When Jamaica won the Men’s 4x200M at the 2nd IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas, it was clear that the athletes wanted to make a statement to the USA Men and in particular 4x100m relay anchor Ryan Bailey. While on the podium for the medal ceremony the quartet of Warren Weir, Jason Livermore, Rasheed Dwyer and Nickel Ashmeade did Usain Bolt’s signature ‘Lightening Bolt/To Di Worl’ pose in an obvious show of support for the triple world record holder who decided not to run the finals after complaining of a sore hamstring. The Jamaican athletes and one in particular, Warren Weir was seething after the celebratory antics of Bailey who had anchored his team to a famous victory […]
Read More
‘Wi Anthem Must Play’ – Team Jamaica Strikes Double Gold on Final Day of 2015 IAAF World Relays. Veronica Campbell-Brown looked like she was going to shed tears a la Athens 2004. The other members of the winning 4x100m team – Kerron Stewart, Schillonie Calvert and Simone Facey all proudly sang the National Anthem ‘Jamaica Land We Love’ while the Black, Green and Gold Jamaican flag was raised. The Jamaican fans gathered at the stadium joined in the singing. It was the second time our anthem was being played on Day 2 of the 2nd IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas. Our athletes were determined not to leave the championships without the anthem being played and the Women’s 4x100m and Men’s 4x200m teams delivered. Our three other teams in finals all gave of their best but were not able to secure the top podium finish. The Women’s 4x800m team finished 5th with a National Record run while the Men’s and Women’s 4x400m teams both ran huge season’s bests. Team Jamaica won the Women’s 4x100m in a World Leading 42.14 ahead of the USA who recorded a season’s best 42.32. Great Britain secured third place in 42.84. In […]
Read More
