Following an eventful first day, Jamaica came in the morning session of day two of the athletics segment of the Tokyo Games with optimism. In the women’s 400m hurdles, Jamaica had mixed fortunes. Janieve Russell competing in heat two qualified comfortably in 54.81 seconds. However, her teammates Leah Nugent and Ronda Whyte had unforgettable experiences. Nugent, who was a finalist in Rio, drifted outside of her lane twice and was penalized with a disqualification for the infraction. Interestingly, at the Rio Olympics Nugent had a lane violation and was reinstated after the Jamaican management lodged an appeal; however, this time around Nugent’s appeal was unsuccessful. Whyte, who missed making the Olympic team in Rio, saw her Tokyo Olympic dreams turn into a nightmare in the starting blocks as she suffered the indignity of a false start. She had a look of utter disbelief as she walked off the track. Conversely, Jamaica’s trio in the women’s 100m hurdles had no such hiccups as all three entrants advanced to the semifinals. Comparatively, none of Jamaica’s sprint hurdlers at the Rio Olympics made it beyond the heats. This was a massive accomplishment. 2013 World Youth champion Yanique […]
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There was the alluring promise of hope in the air for anxious track and field fans on the first morning of athletics at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The sun shone brightly on Friday morning, providing decent weather conditions to encourage quality performances from several Jamaicans in action. After the razzmatazz surrounding the women’s 100m, it was indeed encouraging to see the event live up to the hype. Reigning sprint double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah came out with a sense of purpose and delivered a clear message to her rivals with a stunning 10.82 seconds victory in her heat. It was, at the time, the fastest 100m heat in Olympic history. However, it only lasted a few minutes as Marie-Josee TA Lou of Ivory Coast upstaged Thompson-Herah with a 10.78 lifetime best equalling the African record held by her teammate Murielle Ahoure. The other Jamaican sprinters also impressed. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce scored an impressive win in heat five (5) in 10.84 (+1.3 m/s), Shericka Jackson looked in cruise control in heat seven (7) before easing down for second in 11.07 (-0.2 m/s). In the men’s 400m hurdles, Jaheel Hyde won his heat in 48.54 seconds, […]
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From all accounts, the women’s 100m final at the Tokyo Olympics is going to be remembered as a deeply moving historical event, which will echo in our hearts forever. Since 2008, Jamaica has had a stranglehold on the women’s 100 metres at the Olympic Games. Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at 5 feet tall stands head and shoulders below her fiercest competitors; however, whatever she lacks in height is made up with explosive speed. Fraser-Pryce has featured prominently in her country’s success, winning two of the last three 100m Olympic titles. At 34, she is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, only one woman in history (Florence Griffith-Joyner) has run quicker than Fraser-Pryce’s personal best of 10.63 seconds, which she registered on June 5, 2021. The following month Fraser-Pryce won her country’s national title defeating a formidable field, which included reigning Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah and the fast-rising quarter-miler turn sprinter – Shericka Jackson. “I am glad that I’m always so driven,” said Fraser-Pryce afterwards. “Running 10.6 seconds was one of those big dreams for me and I got that, an Olympic gold is also another big dream and that’s what I’m […]
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Former national record-holder Hansle Parchment’s performance at the JAAA/Supreme Ventures National Senior Athletics Championships was one of the few pleasant surprises. Parchment, a GraceKennedy ambassador, was scarcely seen competing on the track this season. He appeared mostly in TV commercials. This was due largely in part to an injury sustained early in the season after a promising start. “It’s been a tough season,” said Parchment. “It started out well and I was in line to run really fast before I got a stress fracture in my foot which took me out for a while.” Notwithstanding, the bronze medallist from the 2012 London Olympics was proactive during rehabilitation. “I tried to maintain my fitness by doing a lot of swimming and weights training that did not put pressure on my leg,” he explained. With a spot to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics up for grabs, Parchment’s form coming into the JAAA National Senior Championships was unknown. The fact that the 31-year-old only competed once in his pet event since 2019, and would be coming up against a few world ranked sprint hurdlers, made the task more intriguing. After comfortably winning his semi-final in a […]
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“You have one life to live, don’t live with regrets.” That is the philosophy of Jamaica’s artistic gymnast Danushia Francis. The 27-year-old artistic gymnast, who started competing at the age of five, made her debut at the Tokyo Olympics under challenging circumstances. A few days before the competition started, the vivacious and enthusiastic Francis tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) putting her Olympic dreams in doubt. The timing was cruel. We couldn’t be more proud Danusia’s strength. 🖤💚💛 #TeamJamaica pic.twitter.com/R6nNV3CTwg — Team Jamaica (@TeamJA876) July 25, 2021 However, Francis’s never-say-die attitude would not allow her to give up her lifetime goal after making it this far. Francis, who was born in Coventry, England to a Jamaican father and polish mother, had previously been a reserve for Great Britain at the London Olympics and failed to make the Jamaican team for the Rio Olympics after switching allegiance at the age of 19. Francis, who competed with a heavily strapped left knee, made a valiant attempt on the uneven bars after the injury forced her to scale down on her full repertoire by pulling out of the vault, balance beam and floor exercises. Despite not advancing beyond the qualification round, that did […]
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Danusia Francis of Jamaica – UNEVEN BARS I love Danusia Francis’ attitude. On the slow replay, you can see the pain she’s in with that ACL injury. Wise decision on her part here. She has much to be proud of, and she clearly is. What a great smile. pic.twitter.com/1oAns7Hc7N — Alheli Picazo (@a_picazo) July 25, 2021 “Danusia your Mental Strength and Courage will be a part of Jamaica’s folklore and history for years to come .I am so proud of what you did for our country and your self. Thank you and Godspeed on a speedy recovery to a 100%” ~Dr. Jason Hamilton, Sports Psychologist#TeamJamaica pic.twitter.com/voj8K8Kmgq — Team Jamaica (@TeamJA876) July 25, 2021
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Damion Thomas Jnr is very meticulous in his approach to life. The first time Olympian possesses all the attributes – discipline, technique, speed and mental fortitude – to succeed in his specialty event the 110m hurdles.
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The Jamaican women bobsled team of driver Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian and brake woman Carrie Russell completed their Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics campaign in 19th pace out of 20 teams with a total of 3:25.94. Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images AsiaPac Clive Mason/Getty Images AsiaPac) Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images AsiaPac Clive Mason/Getty Images AsiaPac These Jamaican bobsledders are as cool as ice. It's the first ever #WinterOlympics run for the nation's women's team! #WinterOlympics https://t.co/lmErfjFIm7 pic.twitter.com/QQeoaslph1 — NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 21, 2018 pic.twitter.com/0TY4iQs393 — Jamaica Bobsled Team (@Jambobsled) February 21, 2018 Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images AsiaPac Clive Mason/Getty Images AsiaPac) Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images AsiaPac Clive Mason/Getty Images AsiaPac) Results of all 4 heats Cover photo via Jamaica Bobsled team TW
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