Track Ledger

13 September 2024

The 33rd Olympiad (Paris Olympics) Review - Field Events (3 of 4)

By Henley Taylor

Though there were some injuries and major surprises, the field events were keenly contested, producing one World Record and one Olympic Record in the men’s pole vault and the men’s discus. Overall, the standard of competition was very high as quite a few countries were able to announce themselves in a big way, on the grandest stage of track and field. Armand Duplantis of Sweden posted a world record in the men’s pole vault, while Roje Stona of Jamaica upset the field in the men’s discus. American Ryan Crouser successfully defended his title in the men’s shot put. The American sensation Tamara Davis-Woodhall outlast the competition in the women’s long jump finals. Thea Lafond (Dominica), Jordan Diaz (Spain), Valarie Allman (USA), Camryn Rogers (Canada) and Nina Kennedy all posted impressive victories in their respective events. Men’s Pole Vault Final Once again, Armand Duplantis reigned supreme! The Swede ....

12 September 2024

Review of the 33rd Olympiad (Paris Olympics)- Middle & Long Distances (2 of 4)

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By Henley Taylor

At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the middle- and long-distance events produced epic battles and results. Olympic Records were shattered across six events, three on the men’s side, and three on the women’s side. Beatrice Chebet was the standout athlete with two gold medals in the 5000m and 10000m, while Faith Kipyegon won gold and silver in the 1500m and 5000m, respectively. The irrepressible Sifan Hassan showed her quality by taking the women’s marathon in record time while Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia won the male equivalent also in record time. The American Cole Hocker upset the rest of the field in the men’s 800m posting an Olympic record time of 3:27.65. Emmanuel Wanyoni of Kenya won the men’s 800m while Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain took the women’s equivalent. &nbs....

19 August 2024

Review of the Paris Olympics -Selected Track Events (1 of 4)

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By Henley Taylor

The 33rd Olympiad took place in Paris, France, between July 26 and August 11. The USA topped the medal table with 126 medals that included 40 gold, 44 silver and 42 bronze, while China was second with 91 medals that included 40 gold, 27 silver and 24 bronze and Japan was third with 45 medals that included 20 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze. These were the top three performing countries. Overall, Jamaica was number 44 on the list, with 6 medals that included 1 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze. Jamaica was hit with numerous injuries and mishaps that adversely impacted its performances on the track. Women’s 100m Julien Alfred of St. Lucian posted a National Record of 10.72, to win the women’s 100m final, while Sha’Carri Richardson of the USA was second in 10.87 and her countrywoman Melissa Jefferson was third in 10.92. The field was rounded-out by Daryll Neita of Great Britain in 10.96, Twanisha Terry of the USA in 10.97, Mujing....

07 August 2024

Noah Lyles takes Men’s 100m crown at the Paris Olympics

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By O'Neil A Reid

Noah Lyles, the 27-year-old Florida native shocked the track and field world when he captured the men's 100m title at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on August 4, 2024. In what is considered one of the closest 100m races, Lyles prevailed by winning in a personal best time. Lyles used his powerful finish to beat Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by 4/1000 of a second to capture the title. Both Lyles (9.784) and Thompson (9.789) were credited with identical times of 9.79 seconds. Fred Kerly of the USA was third in 9.81 seconds. South Africa’s Akani Simbime finished fourth in a national record time of 9.82 seconds with reigning 100m Olympic champion Marcell Jacob posting a season best 9.85 for fifth place. The field was rounded out by Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (9.86), a national record. USA’s Kenny Bednarek was seventh in 9.88 ahead of Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in 9.91. Lyles Progression Lyles, the reigning 100m ....

01 August 2024

Review of the 2024 Stockholm Diamond League

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By Henley Taylor

The 2024 Bauhaus-galan was the 57th edition of the annual outdoor track and field meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. The meet was held on Sunday, June 2, at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium, and was the seventh leg of thirteen of the 2024 Diamond League which is the highest international circuit competition. Men’s 100m Final – Wind: -1.0 Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon won the men’s 100m final in 10.16, while Kyree King of the USA was second in 10.18 and Chitura Ali of Italy was third in 10.19. The field was rounded-out by Ryiem Forde of Jamaica in 10.22, Abdul Hakim Sani Brown of Japan in 10.28, Joshua Hartman of Germany in 10.30, Henrik Larsson of Sweden in 10.47 and Yupun Abeykoon of Sri Lanka in 10.63. Women’s 100m Final – Wind: -0.8 Gina Miriam Bass Bittaye of Gambia won the women’s 100m final in 11.15, while Marie Josee Talou-Smith of the Ivory Coast was second in 11.16 ....

30 July 2024

Seville best Lyles, Alfred shines at the 2024 Racers Grand Prix

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By Henley Taylor

The sixth staging of the Racers Grand Prix took place at the National Stadium, Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday, June 1, 2024. The meet covered thirteen events and featured a number of high caliber international stars. Men’s 100m Final – Wind: +0.9 Oblique Seville of Jamaica posted a personal best and world leading 9.82, to win the men’s 100m final, while the Noah Lyles of the USA was second in a season best 9.85 and Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya was third in 10.02. The field was rounded-out by Kendal Williams of the USA in 10.06, Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain in 10.09, Josephus Lyles of the USA in 10.14, Kadrian Goldson of Jamaica in 10.18 and Tyquendo Tracey of Jamaica in 10.30. Women’s 100m Final – Wind: +1.3 Julien Alfred of St. Lucia won the women’s 100m in meet record 10.78, to equal the mark set by Shericka Jackson in 2023. Krystal Sloley of Jamaica posted 10.99 for sec....

30 July 2024

Review of the 2024 Ostrava Golden Spikes Meet

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By Henley Taylor

The Czech city of Ostrava came alive, when the 2024 Ostrava Golden Spikes Meet took place on May 28, at the Mestsky Stadium. That was the 63rd edition and featured a total of seventeen international events that included eleven track events, and six field events. Men’s 100m Final – Wind: +1.0 Andre De Grasse of Canada won the men’s 100m final in 10.10, while Ryiem Forde of Jamaica was second in 10.17 and Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy was third in 10.19. The field was rounded-out by Jerome Blake of Canada in 10.19, Zdenek Stromsik of the Czech Republic in 10.37, Reece Prescod of Great Britain in 10.39, Jan Volko of Slovakia in 10.42 and Jan Veleba of the Czech Republic in 10.55. Women’s 100m final – Wind: +0.7 Ewa Swoboda of Poland posted 11.05, to win the women’s 100m, while Gina Mariam Bass Bittaye of Gambia was second in 11.14 and Zaynab Dosso of Italy was third in 11.18. ....

14 June 2024

MacLauglin-Levrone stuns at Edwin Moses Legends Meet

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By Henley Taylor

The 2024 inaugural Edwin Moses Legends Meet was held on Friday, May 31, 2024, at the Edwin Moses Track on the campus of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Apart from Edwin Moses, several legends were in attendance. These included the Americans Gwen Torrance, Yolanda “Gail” Devers and the Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown. By all indications, the meet was a resounding success. The Edwin Moses Legends Meet is promoted by the Puma American Track League and Paul Doyle. Edwin Moses has signed a one-year license for the use of his name. The Meet featured the sensational performance by Sydney MacLaughlin-Levrone in the women’s 400m hurdles where she posted a world-leading 52.70 seconds. Other winners included Tamara Clark (100m), Kendra Harrison (100m hurdles) and Christopher Bailey (400m). Below are some of the highlights from the Meet. MacLaughlin-Levrone sizzles in Women’s 400m Hurdles Final There was much anticipation of S....

29 May 2024

Chebet, Richardson and Coleman victorious at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic

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By Henley Taylor

The 2024 Prefontaine Classic took place at Hayward field, Eugene, Oregon, on May 25. The meet was the fourth stop in the Diamond League series and featured some of the heavyweights in track and field, across eighteen events. There were several impressive performances including Beatrice Chebet of Kenya setting a new world record in the women’s 10,000m. Americans Sha’Carri Richardson, Christian Coleman and Kenny Bednarek all posted impressive victories. The biggest upset took place in the women’s 100m final that saw a complete reversal of the 2021 results where Richardson defeated Elaine Thompson-Herah in the women’s 100m. Women’s 10,000m Final Beatrice Chebet of Kenya posted a World Record of 28:54.14, to win the women’s 10,000m. It was the first time in history that a woman would breach the twenty-nine-minute barrier. Chebet, the 24-year-old World Championship silver medalist in the 5000m, has been in fine form....

29 May 2024

LSU Women and Arkansas Men crowned 2024 SEC Champions

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By Henley Taylor

The 2024 South-Eastern Conference (SEC) Outdoor Championship took place at Gainesville, Florida from Thursday, May 9, 2024, to Saturday, May 11, 2024. There was a total of fourteen universities on the women’s side, and thirteen universities on the men’s side that participated at the championship. The University of Arkansas amassed 110 points to secure their 34th SEC title. The Lady Tigers of LSU amassed 126 points to claim the women’s title. The championship was highlighted by impressive performances by Arkansas Nickisha Pryce who ran a collegiate record in the women’s 400m and LSU’s Brianna Lyston 10.91 meet record in the women’s 100m. University of Georgia’s Christopher Williams ran a meet record 44.05 in the men’s 400m while the Arkansas men won the 4x400 relay in a brisk 2:59.03. Below are selected highlights from the championship. Men’s 100m Final – Wind: +0.6 Godson....