26 February 2018

Akeem Bloomfield Claims SEC 400m Indoor title

By O'Neil A. Reid

In only his second year at Auburn University, Akeem Bloomfield captured the men's 400m indoors title at the SEC Indoor Championship held at College Station, Texas over the weekend (February 24-25). The 20 year-old Kingston College graduate stopped the clock in a time of 45.22 seconds, the 5th fastest time in the world so far this season. Bloomfield is also credited with having the 3rd fastest time in the world after running a personal best 45.02 seconds in the 400m at the Clemson Tiger Paw Invitational on February 9, 2018. After experiencing an erratic indoor season last year, Bloomfield is finally adjusting to the indoor environment. Bloomfield’s victory on Sunday represents his first indoor SEC title. After the race, Bloomfield smiled and waved to the crowd, and seemed very satisfied with his performance. Bloomfield teammate and fellow Jamaican Nathan Allen finished in third place in a personal best time of 4....

05 February 2018

Miller-Uibo, Baker, Korir & Wilson-led USA 4x800m Sparkle at Millrose

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By O'Neil A. Reid

The 111th staging of the Millrose Games, held at the Armory in New York this past weekend, was simply record-breaking. Athletes geared-up for qualification and selection to their country’s team to the 2018 World Indoor Championship that is set for Birmingham, England, March 1 -4. Miller-Uibo display her quality Bahamas’s Shaunae Miller-Uibo equaled the women’s 300m with a world-leading time of 35.45 seconds. Miller-Uibo finished ahead of Canada’s Sage Watson (37.08) and USA’s Jaide Stepter (37.23). The reigning Olympic 400m champ seized control of the race from the outset and spent the last 150m running against the clock. In her post-race interview, Miller-Uibo pointed out that since that is a non-championship year [no Summer Olympics or World Outdoor Championship], the focus is on having fun with the 200m and the 400m. The talented 23-year-old holds the Bahamian outdoor records in both t....

01 February 2018

Powell set to Unleash on Millrose Games Debut

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By Press Release

Jamaican record holder Asafa Powell will make his first appearance indoors since copping silver at the 2016 World Indoors Championships, when he lines up in the 60m at Saturday’s Millrose Games inside the New Balance Track and Field Centre at The Armory in New York. Powell, who is continuing his comeback after a lengthy layoff due to an Achilles injury, which he suffered last year, is looking to make a return to the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham in March. Asafa is excited Speaking ahead of Saturday’s assignment, the former 100m world record holder underlined that he is eager to show his form, adding that he is excited about what will be his first time competing at the highly-rated indoor track and field festival. “Millrose marks a few firsts for me. It’s my first time back on the track after my Achilles injury, it’s my first time at the Millrose Games itself and ....

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....