Elaine ‘Slimmaz’ Thompson is now a household name in Jamaican track and field. The Banana Ground, Manchester native crowned herself in glory with a facile win in the women’s 200m finals to claim her first national senior title. What made it even more special was the fact that the win came on her 23rd birthday. Not many were surprised by either the win or the margin of victory. In fact many had anticipated a super fast time given her rather easy display in the semi-finals the day before. That was not to be as the race was run into a -2.4 m/s wind. Not much chance for a fast time for Thompson who came around the curve with her two main rivals, Sherone Simpson and 2011 World Champion Veronica-Campbell Brown along with Kerron Stewart in close quarters. The issue was never in doubt soon after however as the smooth stepping UTech athlete impressively streaked away from rivals to win in 22.51. Sherone Simpson who on Friday night claimed one of three available spots in the 100m, turned in another quality performance to finish a comfortable 2nd in 22.77. Campbell-Brown failed to keep pace with the top two but had enough […]
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The men’s 200m finals pitted perennial rivals Nickel Ashmeade and Warren Weir against each other. Julian Forte who ran 20.04 in the semi-finals and defending champion Rasheed Dwyer were the other top contenders. Forte ran a brilliant first half of the race and appeared to have a bit in reserve coming off the curve with Ashmeade, Dwyer and Weir in close contention. Forte, the fastest Jamaican over the distance in 2015, seemingly lost his composure as Ashmeade and then Weir bore down on him and his shoulders tightened noticeably. It was left to the 2013 World Championships Silver Medalist Weir to take the fight to Ashmeade as they have done so often over the past 3 years. This time around, the 25 year old Ashmeade who finished just outside the medals at the 2013 Moscow Games, dug deep into his reserves to thwart the persistent late challenge of Weir. The time of 20.36 was nothing to write home about but this was due to a strong headwind. Weir whose form has been very spotty this season, showed glimpses of the fighting spirit that has brought him medals at the last two global athletics event, finishing a close 2nd in […]
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Jamaica’s Discus program is in a rich vein of form and though no dizzying marks were registered, the competitive and entertainment value was far from diminished as three of Calabar High School’s distinguished throwing alumni battled for supremacy at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures Limited 2015 National track and Field Championships. The three big ‘Lions’, 2015 world leader Jason Dadz Morgan, Chad Wright and former World Junior and Youth Champion Fedrick Dacres had all previously attained the qualifying standard for the 2015 IAAF World Championship in Beijing, China later this year. Bragging rights was at stake for the winner of the National Senior title and the main protagonists also welcomed the opportunity to perhaps improve on their season bests. [column2] [/column2][column2_last] [/column2_last]The very popular Morgan also used the opportunity to demonstrate a few dance moves much to the delight of those watching but was unable to reproduce anything close to his world leading mark of 68.19M set less than a month ago. It was always going to come down to who executed best on the day and when the dust settled it was Dacres who grabbed the National Senior title with a best mark of 63.23M to beat Morgan with […]
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It was billed as a ‘Three the hard way clash’ by Team Jamaica Sports in its 110m Hurdles Preview with ‘Omar McLeod poised to upstage Hansle Parchment and Andrew Riley’. The race unfolded as previewed and it was breathtaking to watch. Hansle Parchment needed to be close to his record setting shape of 2014 if he were to stop the rampaging McLeod and regain the National Title he won in 2012. He was but not close enough as the favourite McLeod turned in the performance of his life to win the hotly contested event in a world leading and intercollegiate record 12.97 (1.0 m/s), the 2nd fastest time ever by a Jamaican behind Parchment’s 12.94. It was poetry in motion execution by the former Kingston College and Manchester High standout who got off to his customary fast start and found extra when Parchment loomed menacingly close home. McLeod who won NCAA Division One titles indoors and outdoors was copping his first national Senior title and obliterated his previous best of 13.21 set in Des Moines in April. It was his last run in the Arkansas Razorback colours as just prior to the ‘Trials’ McLeod indicated that he had taken the […]
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The look on Natoya Goule’s face as she glanced across at the clock told the story. Simoya Campbell’s already infectious smile got much wider. The future of Jamaican 800m which has been promising so much since Goule stepped up as heir to long-time stalwart and National Record Holder Kenia Sinclair was finally here. The National Stadium came alive as the darlings of Jamaica’s female middle distance program made their intentions clear from the outset. The smaller Goule set out in the only way she knows – from the front and on cue the elegant striding Campbell ensured she kept close. The two raced as a pair to cover the first 400m in just over 57 seconds. All eyes were on the clock as the knowledgeable cheering supporters in the National Stadium Grand Stand and those with viewing access elsewhere willed on the duo as well as Kimarra McDonald in third knowing that something very special was about to unfold. With less that 300m to go, the more seasoned Goule accelerated and Campbell with her #MissionBeijing and coach’s advise ringing in her ears knew she had to follow suit and that she did. McDonald tried desperately to close but was […]
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Janieve Russell was the overwhelming favourite to win her first National Senior 400m hurdles title and the 21 year old did not disappoint, even if she had to work a little harder than many anticipated. The 2014 Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist is the only Jamaican other than Kaliese Spencer to go sub 55 so far this year and her season best 54.83 made her a cinch in the minds of many to win. Russell completed the event in 55.10, her 2nd fastest time of the season. Shevon Stoddart showed in the semi-finals that she was in good form and was coming to run.The 32 year old part-time model/singer entered the ‘Trials’ as the 4th ranked Jamaican on the year with a best of 56.27 and clipped almost a full second off that time running 55.29 as she ensured that Russell was fully extended. Stoddart, a two time Olympian having represented Jamaica at the 2004 and 2008 Games was qualifying for her 2nd World Championships and a return to the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing. Ristanana Tracey came to life in the finals to secure 3rd place in 55.46. Tracey was qualifying for her 3rd straight IAAF World Championship team. Samantha […]
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She had no point to prove. No message to send. She did not need to run at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Track and Field Championships but Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce needed to see where she was at after missing a few races due to some discomfort in her leg. When the starter’s gun fired, the Pocket Rocket exploded from the blocks in typical fashion and the race was as good as over. The little dynamo fought off the early challenge of former MVP starlet Sherone Simpson who herself was off to a blinder before moving further away with each stride to win by a wide margin in a world leading 10.79 (0.4 m/s). The national record holder may have the odd bad race, after all she is human, but Fraser-Pryce once again stamped her undeniable class on proceedings with a run that was a warning to those queuing up to dethrone her as world champion. The 28 year old dismissed suggestions by the media in a post race interview that she was out to prove a point or send a message. …It was more of executing a very good race after missing a couple of races because of a hamstring niggle. […]
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Former world record holder Asafa Powell, who last night won yet another 100m National Senior title came out in support of 2011 IAAF World Champion who finished 6th in his semi-final and failed to make the final. “It’s very sad what happened with Yohan (Blake). He just needs to take his time to get back to his best. Next year is a big year so he just needs to focus on that”, Powell said in his post race interview. The 32 year old Powell, who is unbeaten in 2015, also responded to suggestions from reporters that the Jamaicans were some way off the blistering pace being set by the Americans led by Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay. “We still have it. We have been on top of the world for a number of years now and we are still going to continue that trend”, said Powell after a slight chuckle. [column2] [/column2][column2_last] [/column2_last] The affable Jamaican speedster out of Charlemont High School indicated that he offered congratulations to Ashmeade and Bailey-Cole after both broke the 10 second barrier on the way to season best times. The two time World Championship Bronze Medalist is confident he will be a factor in […]
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Asafa Powell first won the National Senior Title over 100m in 2003. Many have written him off even at the national level, calling time on his career, even suggesting that he gives his legions of adoring female fans more to appreciate by taking up a career as a model.Twelve years, a few world records, two world championship bronze medals, a high profile relationship with a beauty queen and many injuries later and the Sub 10 King continues to show that he is far from being a spent force. The 32 year old former MVP stable star and red hot favourite delivered as many expected with a clinical display to win yet another National Senior 100m title on Friday night in front of a decent crowd at the National Stadium. Powell, who is unbeaten over the distance in 2015 had by his standards a modest start before turning on the afterburners close home to separate himself from a quality field to win in 9.84. This equaled the time he ran at the Jamaica International Invitational IAAF World Challenge Meet in May. The confident Powell has significantly improved the last quarter of his races since leaving the MVP Track Club but […]
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The 2014 Diamond League 400m hurdles race series winner Kaliese Spencer has a wild card to the Beijing World Championships which means Jamaica will be sending four representatives to the track and field showpiece in August. Spencer will be in action at the 2015 JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Track and Field Championships (“Trials”) and will be tough to beat in pursuit of yet another National Senior title and a 4th consecutive trip to the IAAF World Championships. The MVP starlet is by far the fastest Jamaican this year with a season best 54.15 which ranks her 3rd in the world. The main hopefuls for the other spots in the final are 2012 World Junior Champion and 2014 Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist Janieve Russell, Ristanana Tracey, Nikita Tracey, Danielle Dowie, Shevon Stoddart, 2007 World Championship finalist Nickesha Wilson, Rhonda Whyte, Samantha Elliott and 2015 Penn Relays Collegiate Champion Rushell Clayton. Janieve Russell is the only other Jamaican to go sub 56 so far this year and her season best 54.83 puts her in prime position to grab one of the three remaining tickets to Russell. The UTech athlete’s next best time of 55.29 done at the Jamaica International Invitational IAAF World […]
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