Trackledger

26 May 2022

Erriyon Knighton, the heir apparent

By Henley Taylor

The rise of the American Erriyon Knighton as a 200m sprinter is a legitimate threat to one of Usain Bolt’s outstanding record. On April 30, 2022, at the LSU Bernie Moore Stadium in Baton Rouge Louisiana, the eighteen-year-old Erriyon ran an unbelievable 19.49 seconds over the 200m to obliterate his own junior record of 19.84. In the process, Knighton became the fourth fastest over the distance. Knighton has chopped off 0.35 of a second from his previous World Junior Record of 19.84. By any objective standard, this is massive. Knighton performance has certainly put the entire track and field community on notice. Reflecting on Bolt’s greatness Every devout track and field analyst or sports enthusiast knows that Usain St. Leo Bolt is the greatest track athlete ever. Certainly, Bolt is the best ever over the 100m and 200m; his World Records of 9.58 and 19.19, respectively, speak volumes. Indeed, Bolt's accomplishments are astounding, ....

25 May 2022

The phenomenal Fraser-Pryce sizzles at The Kip Kieno Classic

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By Henley Taaylor

Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce posted a season's best and world-leading time of 10.67 seconds to win the women's 100m at the third edition of the Kip Kieno Classic in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday May 7, 2022. The thirty-five-year-old Fraser-Pryce was in imperious form as she decimated a lineup that included the young Namibian sensation, Christine Mboma, and the American Javian Oliver. And even though the time was done at high altitude of 1700m above sea level, it was nonetheless a stellar performance from the two-times Olympic and four-times World Champion. Indeed, the 10.67 was done in a -0.4W, and is Fraser-Pryce's third fastest time ever, and the ninth fastest time in history. Proven veteran Without doubt, Fraser-Pryce is proving herself to be one of the most enduring and talented athletes of all times with a consistent string of high-level performances that befuddle logic. Fraser-Pryce is like fine wine; the older she gets, t....

25 May 2022

Thomas, Lyles and Harrison golden at the 2022 Doha Diamond League

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By Henley Taylor

The 2022 Doha Wanda Diamond League took place on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. The Doha Wanda Diamond League is the first in a series of thirteen meets that will culminates with the two-day Diamond League Final scheduled for September 7 and 8. Several world beaters participated in thirteen events/disciplines at the competition, including Gabrielle Thomas (USA), Noah Lyles (USA), Kendra Harrison (USA) and Anderson Peters (Grenada). All posted impressive victories. Women’s 200m The women's 200m, one of the marque events of the Meet, featured American Gabrielle Thomas matching strides with Jamaica's Shericka Jackson and the UK's Dina Asher-Smith. The race was extremely competitive, but it was Thomas who prevailed in a nippy 21.98 to defeat Jackson in the closing stages of the race. Jackson posted 22.07 for second while Asher-Smith stopped the clock in 22.37. The twenty-five-year-old Thomas, who has a lifetime best 21.....

25 May 2022

Thompson-Herah, Bromell and Crouser shine at ATL Puerto Rico Athletics Classic

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By O'Neil A Reid

Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, of Jamaica, ran a Meet record of 10.93 seconds in the 100m for victory at the ATL Puerto Rico Athletics Classic held at Estadio Francisco Montaner Stadium, Ponce, Puerto Rico on May 12. Thompson-Herah took command of the field and ran a control race to stop the clock. Michelle Lee-Aye (Trinidad and Tobago) was second, in 11.06, while Shania Collins (USA) posted a time of 11.08 for third. Thompson-Herah winning time of 10.93 is 0.04 slower than her season best of 10.89 that she posted at the Hilmer Lodge Stadium in California on April 16. Of course, the current 100m world lead is held by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who posted a blistering 10.67 in Nairobi Kenya on May 7th. Trayvon Bromell led a trio of Americans in the men’s 100m final. Bromell won the event in a meet record 10.92 seconds, ahead of Brandon Carnes (10.02) and Kyree King (10.11). The confident and in-form Bromell is hoping to erase a disappointing 2021 season where he....

29 March 2022

2022 World Indoor Championship Review

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By O'Neil A. Reid

The curtain came down on the 2022 Indoor Track and Field Championship that was held in Belgrade, Serbia on March 19, with the Jamaican women capturing gold in the 4x400 relays in the final event. But while the Ethiopians top the medal standing with 4 gold medals, it was the Americans who captured the most medals (3G,7S, 9B) for a tally of 19 medals. Americans Grant Holloway (60m hurdles), Ajee Wilson (800m) and Sandi Morris (Pole Vault) all posted impressive performances. The Ethiopian team dominated the distance races, with Samuel Tefera and Gudaf Tsegay sweeping the men’s and women’s 1500m respectively. Selemon Barega and Lemiem Hailu were equally impressive as they swept the men’s and women’s 3000m titles. Italy’s Lamont Jacob (60m), Sweden’s Mujinga Kambundji (60m), Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards (400m) and Bahamas’s Shaunae Miller-Uibo (400m) were all winners. Ethiopian going the distance ....

29 March 2022

A Review of the 2022 Jamaica Carifta Games Trials - Part 2

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By Henley Taylor

Girls Under-17 100mH Final Bryana Davidson of St. Jago High won the Girls under-17 100mH in 13.52, while Jody-Ann Daley of Hydel was second in 13.62. Briana Campbell, also of St. Jago High, rounded out the top three in a time of 13.74. Davidson won with a tailwind reading of 0.5W. Amoi Kentish, Tashay Faulkner and Chennie Locke of Alpha Convent of Mercy completed the finalists in the event. Girls Under-20 100mH Final Alexis James of Petersfield High won the Girls under-20 100mH in a smart 13.16. Oneka Wilson, of Hydel High School, was second in 13.22, finishing ahead of her team-mate Kerrica Hill, who stopped the clock in 13.25. Asharria Ulett of St Catherine High was fourth in 13.58, while Shania Myers of Hydel High School was fifth in 13.9. Alexia Austin of Glengoffe High was sixth in 14.11, while Essence Burbridge of Immaculate Conception High did not finish. The wind reading was +0.8W Boys U....

28 March 2022

A critical review of the Jamaican Carifta Trials - Part 1

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By Henley Taylor

Overall, the 2022 Jamaica Carifta Trials was exceptional in many respects, notwithstanding the fact that it was a largely spectator-free event. The Trials was held over three days from Friday, March 11 to Sunday, March 13 at the National Stadium. Predictably, the Trials delivered and exceeded all expectations. The Trials is designed to select the team for the 2022 Carifta Games that will be held at the same venue in Kington Jamaica from April 16 to 18. Athletes competed in two categories: the under-20 and under-17 for both boys and girls. Girls under-20 100m Final In the Girls under-20 100m Final, it was a clean sweep for Edwin Allen as Tia Clayton won by the narrowest of margin, posting 11.49 to beat her twin sister, Tina Clayton, who came in at 11.50 and Serena Cole's 11.51. Tia's win was a bit surprising and does indicate that she is rebounding from a subpar 2021 season, Tia along with Serena Cole will be serious contenders ....

20 March 2022

Lamont Jacobs wins 60m indoor world title

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By Henley Taylor

Reigning Olympic 100m champion, Lamont Marcell Jacobs, is gradually establishing himself as the best sprinter in the world when he captured his first World 60m indoor title in a brisk and world leading time of 6.41 seconds at the World Indoors Championship, in Belgrade, Serbia on March 19. Jacobs finished ahead of the American Christian Coleman who posted the same time of 6.41 seconds with Marvin Bracy in third in a personal best time of 6.44 seconds. Jacobs winning time of 6.41 is the 4th fastest time in history behind Coleman (6.34), Maurice Greene (6.39), Ronnie Baker (6.40) and Andre Cason (6.41). Entering the 60m finals in Belgrade with his much-anticipated showdown with Coleman, Jacobs ran 6.53 seconds in the heats before unleashing a world leading performance of 6.45 seconds in the semi-finals. In the finals and running out of lane 5, Jacob ran a strong race to out-lean Coleman at the line for the victory. Up next for the Italian world sprint ch....

19 February 2022

The greatest 100m Hurdles final awaits us at the 2022 JAAA National Trials

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By Henley Taylor

What might happen when a galaxy of local female 100m hurdling stars are aligned across eight lanes at the upcoming 2022 edition of the JAAA National Selection Trials scheduled for June 2022? At stake are three places at the 2022 World Championship in Oregon, USA. Who will be among those eight to book these coveted places to compete in Oregon? And what times are we likely to see for the first three to cross the finish line? Abundance of talent Certainly, the current aggregation of female sprint hurdlers must go down as the most talented in Jamaica's history. Indeed, the likes of Danielle Williams, the 2017 World Champion; Megan Tapper, the current Olympic bronze medalist; the fast rising, Brittany Anderson; the talented Ackera Nugent and Yanique Thompson could all make for an interesting National Trials in June. Proven Veterans The twenty-nine-year-old Danielle Williams is the current National....

14 February 2022

The 114th Millrose Games - previews of the women's 800m and 60m Hurdles

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By Henley Taylor

On Saturday, January 29, 2022, track and field fans will be treated to two early season's exciting events in the female 800m and the female 60m hurdles at the 114th Millrose Games. These two events will feature some of the standout and emerging athletes in their respective events and will give some indications of the early season's preparations and form ahead of the Diamond League Series and the World Championship this summer in Oregon, USA. Women's 800m The women's 800m will feature the twenty-seven-year-old Ajeé Wilson, who is an American middle-distance runner who specializes in the 800 metres. Though she did not secure a podium finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Wilson is the second fastest American of all times in the event, with a personal best of 1:55.61. This, therefore, means that she will be very competitive in the event. Undoubtedly, the biggest name that is absent from the 800m event is the ....