Jamaica won its first medal on the opening day of the 2017 IPC World Para Athletics Junior Championships, when Tevaughn Thomas secured Bronze in the Men’s 200m T42-47 in a time of 23.30s. He was defeated by Kumar Aamit of India, who won in a time of 23.23s and the Silver medal went to Austria’s Alexander Pototschnig, his time was 23.40s. Thomas, who will compete in the Men’s 100m tomorrow (August 4), had a flying start and was marginally ahead of the field coming off the curve. He was eventually passed by the much stronger Indian and the fast finishing Austrian in the final 20 metres of the race. “I had a good start and was comfortable coming off the bend, but I guess the other athletes wanted it more”, said Thomas after the race. “I am happy to have secured a medal for my country, family and fans at home”. Earlier in the day, Jason Brown and Moesha Morris, represented the country with distinction in the Championship’s opening ceremony. Morris, who is representing the country for the first time at an international track and field event, was elated to have been a part of the ceremony, while […]
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For much of the 2017 season Fedrick Dacres was the number one Discus thrower in the world. The 23 year old Jamaican has had his best season since making the transition to the senior ranks and is tipped by many to be on the medal podium at the London World Championships. Unlike previous seasons, Dacres has competed with the best throwers in the world in the build up to the championships and has comfortably maintained the consistency to merit consideration as a medal favorite. He held the number one ranking from early February to June 29 when he was surpassed by main rival and favorite for the Gold, Daniel Stahl of Sweden, the only man to throw over 70m. Stahl has a best of 71.29m and has recorded five other throws over 68m. The Jamaican on the other hand has a personal and season best of 68.88m and has breached the 68m mark on two other occasions. A third thrower Andrius Gudzius of Lithuania is also a major contender and has matched Dacres in consistency. He holds a win over the top two and has three marks over 68m with a best of 68.61m. Defending champion Piotr Malachowski […]
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Stephanie-Ann McPherson produced a gallant display in her first final at a global championships but was nosed out by hometown girl Antonina Krivoshapka for the bronze medal in the 400m at the 2013 IAAF World championships in Moscow, Russia. The Jamaican, then a 24 year old rookie on the international circuit clocked 49.99 to Krivoshapka’s 49.78 as Gold went to Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu in 49.41 over Amantle Montsho of Botswana also in 49.41. McPherson will however have some reason to celebrate, albeit some 4 years later. In 2016 Krivoshapka’s samples from the 2012 Olympics were retested and on February 1, 2017 it was announced that the samples were found to contain the banned substance Turinabol. In April 2017 she was given a two year ban which disqualified all her results from 2012 and 2013. The Russian’s doping violation and the disqualification of her results means that McPherson has been upgraded to the Bronze medal position.The wiry Jamaican will be among 15 individuals and relay teams that will be presented their medals at special ceremonies at the 16th IAAF World Championships which starts on August 4 in London. McPherson’s upgrade to Bronze means Team Jamaica’s medal […]
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The Men’s 100m at any global championships is usually one of the most eagerly anticipated hence the constant reference to it as the ‘blue riband’ event. The 2017 IAAF World Championships is no different and perhaps will enjoy even greater spotlight as it will be the final race in the glitzy career of the legend Usain Bolt, the unquestionable poster boy of athletics for the last decade. The charismatic and all conquering Jamaican has never looked as vulnerable as he does heading into the 16th edition of the IAAF showpiece event. Being written off before in the build up to major championships is nothing new to Bolt with Beijing 2015 and Rio 2016 coming readily to mind. Those questioning the sports leading man were left with the proverbial egg on the face as he turned back all challengers to secure the double on both occasions. Bolt has had three races over 100m this season with his best of 9.95 coming on his last start at the Monaco Diamond League Meeting on July 21. The lanky Jamaica was nowhere near sharp and after a sluggish start found his best strides late in the event to overhaul the field, […]
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Canadian Andre De Grasse has withdrawn from the IAAF World Championship scheduled to get underway on August 4 in London. The 22 year old who won Bronze at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing reportedly suffered an injury and has pulled the plug in his 2017 season. His withdrawal means the much anticipated showdown with defending champion Usain Bolt will not materialize. The Canadian reportedly suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain during his last training session while practising starts. De Grasse was seen in many quarters as a potential medalist in both the 100m and 200m. His management team recently courted controversy with allegations that the handlers of the track and fields poster boy Bolt were instrumental in having De Grasse pulled from a 100m race where the Jamaican was to have his final race before the World Championships. De Grasse has since distanced himself from the claims but has drawn the ire of Bolt who felt he was disrespected. The following press release was issued by Doyle Management Group: London, England: On Monday evening, at Mile End Stadium in London, Andre had his final starting blocks session in preparation for Friday’s World Championships Men’s 100m heats. On […]
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Six years after his only individual Gold medal at a major championships, a repackaged Yohan Blake, who has shed the ‘Beast’ persona and prefers to be referred to as the ‘Blessed One’ looks poised to challenge for a medal and if his performances to date are anything to go by looks the one most likely to spoil the expected golden farewell for Bolt. It will not be an easy task given Bolt’s reputation as the ultimate championship performer but the old swag and confidence is back and that makes Blake a dangerous contender. He has season best times of 9.90 and 19.97 which he clocked to win the sprint double at the Jamaican ‘Trials’ in late June. His scheduled warm up race ahead of the World Championships did not materialize after he pulled out of the 100m at the Rabat Diamond League on July 15 with what was said to be some discomfort in the groin. Reports from his camp are that the decision was more out of precaution and the 27 year old has been catching pigeons at training. He is the second fastest of the sprinters who are expected to face the starter […]
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After finishing third at the Racers Invitational Meet in Jamaica in June, 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams was asked by a reporter how her preparations were going for the London World Championships. The quietly confident Williams responded “I am going to the World Championships to defend my title”. In 2015 Williams stunned the world and the world’s best to capture Gold in an eventful 100m Hurdles. The then 22 year old Jamaican was near flawless in her execution leading to the finals before turning in the performance of a lifetime to win the coveted Gold medal in a close finish in arguably one of the sport’s most unforgiving events. A few more heralded competitors including a seemingly invincible quartet of Americans for one reason or another were non-factors. Williams missed out on the chance to prove that her win was no fluke when she fell at the Jamaican Trials and did not make the team for the Rio Olympics in 2016. For the former standout from The Queens School and Johnson C Smith University who has always been a fighter, it was a painful reminder of the unpredictability of the event after the unbelievable heights of 2015. Her […]
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.@usainbolt remembers how he got into the 100m 🏃💨#IAAFworlds pic.twitter.com/EKEyDBrM7d — IAAF (@iaaforg) August 1, 2017 "Stop putting too much pressure on young athletes" is @usainbolt's advice to anyone working with young talent. #IAAFworlds pic.twitter.com/GJTpwQ4isC — IAAF (@iaaforg) August 1, 2017 "Anything is possible" – @usainbolt Here's why: pic.twitter.com/CxFd1XnJc8 — IAAF (@iaaforg) August 1, 2017 Quand @usainbolt achevé son show, c'est toujours comme ça… #athlétisme @London2017 pic.twitter.com/EnMw89b8Yr — david lehaire (@davidlehaire) August 1, 2017 Les parents de @usainbolt: "Le travail finit toujours par payer" #athlétisme @London2017 pic.twitter.com/PK3Cy7wxQt — david lehaire (@davidlehaire) August 1, 2017 Photos by: Joe Fleming
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In 2015 the two were involved in one of the most breath-taking finishes over 200m at a global championships with the Dutch superstar Dafne Schippers closing strongly to overhaul Jamaican Elaine Thompson to win the Gold medal at the Beijing Games. In 2016 the Jamaican returned the favour not once but twice at the Rio Olympics with Schippers failing to medal in the 100m and being beaten by Thompson in her pet event, the 200m in another epic showdown between arguably the world’s top two female sprinters since 2015. Thompson became the first woman since Florence Griffiths-Joyner to win the 100/200m double at the Olympic Games. Schippers has found it difficult to beat the Jamaican since, losing every time the two have met over 100m. The 2015 World Champion was visibly upset after her last ditch effort to deny Thompson the coveted double in Rio almost resulted in her falling flat on her face. There appears to be no love lost between the two, something that is not alien to the world of track and field, especially among the sport’s elite. The flying Dutchwoman who has seen Thompson supplant her as the world’s premier female sprinter has made […]
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Usain Bolt’s decision to skip the Men’s 200m will no doubt ‘rob’ the world of yet another opportunity to see the poster boy of athletics for the last decade add to his legend. In a sport often mired in controversy, from doping to allegations of corruption, the man who is undoubtedly the greatest sprinter of all times had long indicated that he would only be doing the 100m in his last major global championship and quite likely his final competitive race. For one who has given the world so much, no one should dare argue with his decision. Bolt won the sprint double during the return to the iconic Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing, China in 2015 and would have given Team Jamaica two wild cards in the men’s sprints had he returned to run both events at the London World Championships set to start on August 4. The 11-time World Championship Gold medalist will be aiming for his 4th title over 100m, a feat which will see him surpassing Carl Lewis for most wins in the blue ribband event. It would also mean a combined 8 Gold medals over the short sprints. Bolt’s status as the defending […]
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VIDEO: Elaine Thompson Herah CLOCKS 10.65 (MR) in Women’s 100M, ZURICH
