Trackledger

13 November 2017

Sprinter Matherson Enrolls at Florida State

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By O'Neil A. Reid

One of Jamaica’s most prolific junior sprinters, Jhevaughn Matherson, is now a Florida State (FSU) Seminole. Eighteen-year-old Matherson is now enrolled at FSU as reported by Jamaica news media outlet RJR News. Matherson, who has personal best times of 10.25 seconds (100m) and 20.66 seconds (200m), is coming off a mixed 2017 season. After showing signs of brilliance, his season ended in disappointment as injuries prevented him from showcasing his skills at the 2017 Boys and Girls Champs. Matherson’s departure from Jamaica is a great loss for Kingston College (KC), which was relying on Matherson’s leadership and experience to challenge Calabar High school dominance of Boys Champs in recent years. Coaching Change After a summer filled with uncertainty regarding his continued enrollment at KC as we....

29 June 2017

Van Niekerk upstages Bolt in Ostrava

Diamond League

By O'Neil A. Reid

The 2017 Ostrava Golden Spike was billed the first European stop in the farewell tour of legendary sprinter Usain Bolt, who announced his retirement after the 2017 London World Championship scheduled for August 4 -13. Bolt, the 6’5” Jamaican, who was competing in his 9th Golden Spike meet, easily disposed of the competition, winning the 100m race in 10.06 seconds (-0.3 m/s), ahead of Cuba’s Yunier Perez (10.09) and Turkey’s Jak Ali Harvey (10.26). This was Bolt’s second race of the season, having clocked 10.03 seconds to win his season opener at the Racers Grand Prix in Jamaica on June 10th. Bolt has failed to go sub-10 seconds in his first two 100m outings. However, there is no need for alarm, as Bolt has historically slow starts to his season, only to peak at the opportune time, when gold medals are at stake. But while the festivities in Ostrava were centered on Bolt and rightfully so, it was the 24 year-old South A....

26 June 2017

Thompson, Facey, Smith, Forbes and Williams advance

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By O'Neil A. Reid

Reigning Olympic 100m champion, Elaine Thompson, led an impressive list to advance on Day 1 of the 2017 JAAA Puma National Senior Championship at the National Stadium in Kingston. The three-day championship, which started on June 22, concludes on Sunday June 25. Thompson posted a time of 11.02 seconds (-1.3m/s) to win her heats in the 100m; she advances to the next round. Simone Facey (11.22), Jonielle Smith (11.23), Shashalee Forbes (11.34) and Christania Williams (11.23) will all join Thompson in the next round. Former NCAA 100m champion Remona Burchell (11.35), Jura Levy (11.36) and Schillone Calvert-Powell (11.26) also advance. There are reports that Thompson will not compete in the upcoming 200m race at these championships which led to speculations that she will pursue only the 100m at the World Championship later this summer. Sprint queen....

11 May 2017

Thompson, Simbine and Gardiner sparkle in Doha Diamond League Opener

Diamond League

By O'Neil A. Reid

Double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson was in fine form on Friday (May 5) at the Doha Diamond League Meet in Qatar when she won her 200m season opener. Thompson got off to a slow start and but ran a smooth curve then used her superior top-end speed to accelerate to overpower the rest of the field overtake to stop the clock in 22.19 seconds. Thompson’s winning time was very impressive as she was running into a headwind (-2.3mps). Daphne Schippers (Netherland) was second in 22.45 seconds with Marie Josee Ta Lou (Ivory Coast) was third in 22.77 seconds. Thompson is coming off a successful indoor season where she ran a lifetime best 6.98 seconds in the 60m. Up next for Thompson is the Shanghai Diamond League on Saturday May 13, where she will make her season debut in the 100m Another sub-10 seconds for Simbine South Africa’s Akani Simbine won the men’s 100m in impressive fashion, stopping the clock at 9.99 seconds ahead....

05 May 2017

2017 Penn Relay Recap

Penn Relays

By O'Neil A. Reid

2017 Penn Relay Recap The 123rd edition of the Penn Relays held from Thursday April 27 to Saturday April 29 saw some memorable performances by talented athletes from the high school, college and professional levels. The three-day event was highlighted by scintillating performances by Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson, Sydney McLaughlin (Union Catholic, NJ) and Christopher Taylor (Calabar High, Jamaica). The much–hyped “USA vs. the World” series was explosive and lived up to expectation. The Americans and the Jamaicans captured 3 events apiece in the 6-event series. The Americans took the men’s 4x100 relay and the men’s and women’s Sprint Medley races. The Jamaicans took the men’s and women’s 4x400m and the women’s 4x100m relay races. The Auburn University team led by Akeem Bloomfield and Nathan Allen took the college men’s 4x400m Championship of America (COA) in a brisk ....

29 March 2017

2017 Jamaican Champs Schedules (Order of Events)

High School

By ISAA

CHAMPS 2017 ORDER OF EVENTS ISSA BOYS AND GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIPS TUESDAY. MARCH 28, 2017 TIME EVENTS STATUS 1:00 PM LONG JUMP CLASS 1 BOYS PRELIMS ....

29 March 2017

The 2017 Champs is Here

High School

By O'Neil A. Reid

The 2017 edition of The ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships (Champs) is schedule for Tuesday March 28- Saturday April 1 at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. This 5-day event is perhaps the biggest high school track and field competition in the world in term of its interest and impact. It will be streamed live on the web for those who are unable make it to the National Stadium. The drama and intrigue will be high as defending boys champions, Calabar High School, will be seeking their sixth consecutive hold on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy. Girls champions, Edwin Allen High School, will also seek to defend their title and have the depth and athletes to do so. Taylor vs. Matterson The most intriguing showdown has to be the Class 1 200 fina....

25 January 2017

Usain Bolt losses his 2008 Olympic Relay Gold Medal

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By Associated Press (AP)

GENEVA (AP) -- Usain Bolt has lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals in a doping case involving Jamaican teammate Nesta Carter. Carter and Bolt were teammates on the winning 4x100-meter team, which set a world record of 37.10 seconds. Carter ran the opening leg, and Bolt took the baton third in a team that also included Michael Frater and Asafa Powell. "The Jamaican team is disqualified," the IOC said in a statement. "... the co....

17 January 2017

Bloomfield Runs World Leading 46.68 in 400m

College

By O'Neil A Reid

Jamaican national junior 400m record holder, Akeem Bloomfield and freshman at Auburn University, ran a world-leading time of 46.68 seconds at the Commodore Invitational in Nashville, Tennessee this past Saturday (Jan 14). Bloomfield, a 6’5” graduate of Kingston College (Jamaica), was impressive in his first collegiate indoor 400m race, winning Heat 1 in 46.68 seconds, ahead of Tennessee’s Ari Codgell (46.89) and Alabama’s Skyler Bowden (47.66). Armed with a personal best time of 44.93 seconds in the event, Bloomfield has taken his first step to his expected rise in the USA Collegiate circuit. The Software Engineering major is coached by Henry Rolle. Bloomfield’s teammate, Raheem Chambers, won his 60m heat in 6.72 seconds to finished 3rd overall behind Christian Coleman (6.56) and Mustaqeem Williams (6.69), both of the University of Tennessee. Chambers who hails from Spanish Town, Jamaica, had a stellar high sch....