Shericka Jackson looked stunned beyond belief after glancing at the clock and seeing 49.83 after winning her semi-final heat. The priceless look of a 22 year old who had surprised herself with a big personal best and an expected place in the finals of the 400m, was captured across screens the world over. “I really want to do well because on the day of the medal presentation it is my father’s birthday, and it would be good if I could give him a birthday present,” Jackson said in an interview shortly after. Jackson has shown warrior like qualities from her early days at Vere Technical High, a trait which saw her winning the Bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships behind Allyson Felix of the USA and long time nemesis Shaunae Miller. After the semi-final run to qualify for the final, many expected her to repeat the Bronze medal display of a year earlier as Miller and Felix appeared set for an epic showdown for the 400m crown in Rio. #GOLD @Hey_ItsShaunae #BAH @BAHNOC Shericka Jackson #JAM #Bronze W400M @ESPN_Caribbean #CANOC2016 #RioESPN #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/chTZ878d8N — CANOC Broadcasting (@CANOCBroadcast) August 16, 2016 In what will go […]
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Another glorious chapter was written in the annals of Jamaica’s storied track and field history as pre-race favourite Omar McLeod turned in a performance of sheer class to win the 110m Hurdles title at the Rio Olympics. The Jamaican was expected to win in an event that at times has proven to be a graveyard for favorites. The man known as ‘Mr. Smooth’ was all that and more. There was very little to separate the finalists after the first few hurdles before McLeod emerged in the lead at about the 5th flight. In a brilliant display of silky smooth hurdling, McLeod separated himself from the field after hurdle seven and kept his nerves to score an emphatic victory. It was quick redemption for the undisputed world number one whose favourite status prior to Rio was in doubt after falls in his last two races before the games of the 31st Olympiad. He had erased some of those doubts in the semis with safe execution to secure a comfortable win. A calm and focused McLeod returned for the finals some two hours later, turning back early challenges before exploding over the last three hurdles to give Jamaica it’s 5th […]
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It is likely that the 200m will be the final individual race at the Olympic Games for track and field’s poster boy Usain Bolt. The Jamaican who will be competing at his 4th Olympic Games has indicated to the world that this will be his last. The world’s greatest ever sprinter relishes a challenge but has no intention of closing out this chapter of his illustrious career on a losing note. He has raced just once over the distance in 2016 and though not at his imperious best, did enough to warn rivals that he will be tough to beat. Bolt is ranked number five in the 200m with a season best 19.89 as once again Americans occupy the top two spots. LaShawn Merritt (19.74) is the world leader ahead of Justin Gatlin (19.75) and Ameer Webb (19.85). Bolt has not lost a 200m at a global championships since his defeat at the hands of Tyson Gay at the Osaka World Championships in 2007. He has won two Olympic titles over the distance he has consistently referred to as his favorite. It is difficult to envisage him not winning a third as his quest to rewrite history goes […]
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Omar McLeod for much of the 2016 season appeared unbeatable but the sprint hurdles events have a way of removing any remote aura of invincibility in the blink of an eye. McLeod still has five of the top seven times in 2016 including a world leading 12.98, the only sub 13 time recorded this year but has looked very vulnerable recently. The 2016 IAAF World Indoor champion had some serious problems with the barriers in back to back races in early July and will have to manage his speed better if he is to secure Jamaica’s first Gold medal in the event. Hopefully McLeod’s bad races are behind him. His main rivals appear to be US Olympic Trials winner Devon Allen (13.03) and Spain’s Orlando Ortega (13.04). The 25 year old Cuban-born Ortega received clearance on July 29 to compete for Spain in Rio and will be a dangerous contender. Others such as France’s Dimitri Bascou (13.12), American Ronnie Ash (13.18) and Andrew Pozzi of Great Britain (13.19) are capable of springing a surprise on the day. After all it is the hurdles. Deuce Carter (13.20) has been a revelation this season and appears set to […]
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Terminal 8 at the Big Apple’s busy airport was evacuated last night as reports came in that shots had been fired with eyewitnesses reporting “clapping and banging” NYPD’s Special Ops team tweeted: “All terminals searched & cleared. “Negative results. All affected terminals will resume operations shortly. “No shots were fired.” And now it appears we may know the reason for the initial panic. Authorities say reports of the shooting emerged at “around 9.30pm” US time – the same time that Usain Bolt won his 100m race and took home an incredible third-straight gold medal. Info via Mirror UK Photo AP/Getty
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