He brands himself as the ‘Sub-10 King’ these days and no one can dispute it, as he has posted a record 88 sub-10 seconds marks in the 100 metres. But with seemingly non-stop injury problems and failure to win an individual medal since his 100m bronze at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, the question was asked: is Asafa Powell losing his appeal on the international circuit? According to his agent, Paul Doyle, Powell remains a big name on the circuit, and while there are some concerns from race promoters about his constant injury issues, his client still has a lot to offer. “Is he (Powell) losing his appeal? No, not yet; of course there is some concern when we do deals with meets and people ask if he is going to show up healthy or if he is going to finish the race healthy, but a lot of athletes have that issue,” said Doyle during a recent chat with The Gleaner in Eugene, Oregon. “But he is still a very big name in the sport and still a very much sought-after athlete,” Doyle underlined. Powell, who celebrated his 30th birthday last November, has had his high points […]
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New custom made Team Jamaica “Guh Haad an Done” t-shirts done exclusively by 28 STARS CLOTHING. TO PRE-ORDER EMAIL US at info@TeamJA.org [hr] [column2] [/column2] [column2_last] [/column2_last] [hr]
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University of Technology’s Stephanie McPherson ran another world leading time for the women’s 400 metres at the UTech Classic at the National Stadium yesterday. McPherson who clocked a world-leading and personal best 50.78 seconds for the distance at the inter-collegiate championships a week ago, lowered her time to 50.74 but she still felt she could have done better. “I wanted to run a faster time but the heavy wind affected me, but I am looking forward to the remainder of the season as I am hoping to make the National team to the World Championships this year,” McPherson, a former Mannings’ School student, said after winning her event yesterday. G.C. Foster College’s Anastasia Leroy continued her good early season form, placing second in 53.54 as her former high school teammate, Bobbi Gaye Wilkins-Gooden, in her first competitive race in two years, was third overall in 53.67. Scare for Blake Olympic 100 metres silver medallist Yohan Blake gave his supporters a scare in the men’s 100 metres which was being run at press time. Blake stopped half way the event which was won by St Kitts’ Kim Collins. An official from Blake’s camp said the athlete felt some stiffness in […]
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[column2] [/column2] [column2_last] [/column2_last] LA CHORREA, Panama — Barbados twice rallied from one-goal deficits to register 2-2 draw with Jamaica in a Group A game of the 2013 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship at Estadio Agustin Muquita Sanchez on Monday night. The tie kept both Caribbean teams alive for a quarterfinal berth. The Barbadians (0-0-1, one point) can book a spot in the knockout round with a victory over host Panama (0-0-1, one) on Wednesday night. The Reggae Boyz (0-0-2, two) can advance if either team wins. The top two teams in each group reaches the quarterfinals. In a lively and entertaining first half in which defense seemed to be a forgotten craft at times, both sides attacked freely and often, keeping both goalkeepers on their toes. The Jamaicans dominated the early minutes and quite fittingly drew first blood in the seventh minute, converting a counterattack some 19 seconds ater goalkeeper Nicholas Nelson saved a Barbados shot. Raffique Bryan raced into the penalty area, beat two defenders and chipped keeper Keon Harding from 12 yards for a 1-0 Jamaica advantage. The goal seemed to wake Barbados up from its slumber as it mounted several offensive attacks. The Caribbean side came close […]
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Samsung, the South Korean electronics giant which has sponsored the series for three years since its inception in 2010, has opted not to renew its deal for the forthcoming season, leaving the world governing body with precious little time to find a replacement before action gets underway. The title sponsorship deal is believed to have been worth around £3 million a year to the IAAF, who have been forced to make financial cutbacks in recent years to weather the global economic crisis. However, the IAAF insisted yesterday that the series would not be affected by Samsung’s departure and that it would make up any shortfall in the budget from its own reserves until another commercial partner was found. Until then, the series will be known as the IAAF Diamond League. Samsung’s decision is a blow to the sport so soon after it enjoyed spectacular exposure at the London Olympics but an IAAF source the company had opted to “cut back on its exposure-driven activities”. It recently announced an individual endorsement deal with Usain Bolt and continues to sponsor the Olympic Games and Chelsea Football Club. [column3] [/column3] [column3] [/column3] [column3_last] [/column3_last]
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On the track and in the field, the Carifta Games was Jamaica’s business as usual. A total of 69 medals and a 28th straight year on top don’t lie. Off track, burning questions beg for good answers. As soon as young star Michael O’Hara was declared ill with a full-blown case of chicken pox, a red flag went up. Apparently, young O’Hara arrived in The Bahamas afflicted. It makes you worry for those with whom he travelled there and for his family, friends and colleagues at Calabar. If the virus was passed on to the Carifta team and those they came close to in The Bahamas, the consequences are dire. Presumably, the Carifta officials were convinced that the crisis was well handled by the Jamaican team. Otherwise, they would have had no choice but to send Jamaica home. HEALTH CONCERNS PERSIST That would have killed off the Carifta Games, but the health concern would have had top billing. As things stand, it’s critical to check how O’Hara became infected and to care for any others who may be in danger. I’m no public-health expert, but the first step seems to be an immediate check with his family […]
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Lack of funding will force Jamaica to kick off this weekend’s final round of CONCACAF Under-17 World Cup football qualifiers short on international match experience, raising caution flags about the players’ readiness for competition. The Young Reggae Boyz begin their bid for a return to the World Cup against Panama on Saturday without the benefit of any warm-up games against non-local competition in nine months because the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) could not afford the exposure for the players. Jamaica will also play Barbados on April 8 in their final Group A fixture. “The federation is strapped for cash just now,” said head coach Wendell Downswell, who guided the U-17s to the 2011 World Cup in Mexico. “So we’ve not been able to get any form of international games, apart from the games that we played (earlier) in the qualifying rounds.” Without that test, it’s difficult to predict how the Boyz will react in the qualifiers. “It hurts the team to an extent,” Downswell said. “International exposure … you use that as a measuring stick.” Jamaica reached Panama by winning Caribbean round games against Antigua and Barbuda (4-0) and Bermuda (5-0) last July. The squad has since been […]
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