Track Ledger

13 May 2019

Why Elaine Thompson will not double in Qatar?

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By Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah)

Why Elaine Thompson will not double in Qatar? My heart leapt, and was made glad, to learn, that, young Briana Williams will be doubling at almost every single major track event, including the Jamaica National Senior Trials. Imagine, only 17 years old, yet taking on the workload for the 100m and 200m events. This is good for Briana. When you have been blessed with amazing talent, the coach must sweat the "asset". And, Coach Ato Boldon is doing exactly that. He is doing the correct thing, in giving young Williams the opportunity, and the "freedom to succeed". And, Williams is certainly not shying away from such arduous responsibility. This is how you get the best out of an athlete. Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one! You grasp all opportunities, today, and make the best use of them. What about Elaine Thompson? But what do you think would have been Briana's chance of doubling, ....

13 May 2019

A review of the 2019 IAAF World Relays - Yokohama, Japan

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By Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah)

The just concluded World Relays that was held in Yokohama, Japan, was a good experience for some Jamaican athletes, ahead of the Jamaica National Senior Trials, and ahead of the World Championship to be held in Doha, Qatar. However, many opportunities were squandered. Overall, the results were disappointing for Jamaica, a global powerhouse in track athletics. Jamaica performed below expectations, and well below its performances at the 2017 IAAF World Relays that was held in Nassau, Bahamas. In fact, Jamaica ended the Championship without winning one single Gold medal. Lack of Preparation To think, not even the likes of Elaine Thompson nor Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made a difference to Jamaica's fortune. Indeed, it was a wanton waste of precious resources. The tangible benefits derived do not justify Jamaica's spend nor participation. And what is worse, there was poor deployment of the athletes with respect to selected events they were mad....

08 May 2019

Briana Williams set for a busy 2019 season

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By O'Neil A. Reid

Seventeen-year-old sprinting sensation Briana Williams is set to have a busy summer as she released her schedule for June and July. The Florida-based Williams posted impressive performances at the CARIFTA Games held in the Cayman Island last month (April 20-23), where she won three gold medals. Williams posted victories in the 100m (11.25 seconds), 200m (22.89 seconds) and ran a leg on the Jamaica winning 4x100 relay team. For her exploits, Briana was named the top female performer and was awarded the Austin Sealy Trophy. The Ato-Boldin coached-Williams is embarking on a well-balanced schedule that is tailored to have her peaking at the right time. Will tackle sprint double at Jamaican Senior Championship Williams is schedule to compete in both the 100m and 200m at the Jacksonville Open (Florida) on June 1, A week later, on June 8 she will again tackle the sprint double at the Great Southwest Classic (New Mexico). After a two-wee....

07 May 2019

Why should Elaine Thompson double this year at the World Champ in Doha?

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By Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah)

Why should Elaine Thompson double this year at the World Championship in Doha, Qatar? Coming on the heels of the tumultuous success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Elaine Thompson was expected to dominate the 2017 London World Championship. But a bout of stomach virus, along with a persistent tendinitis in one of her heels, denied her from realizing one of her sporting ambitions, that is, winning the 100m gold at the World Championship. Thompson entered the 100m final with the fastest time but finished a disappointing fifth as a consequence of her viral illness and tendinitis. Tori Bowie with a late surge, finished first ahead of Marie- Jose Talou of the Ivory Coast, and Dafne Schippers of the Netherland, respectively, to win gold. Down but not out Predictably, many fans around the world were made dejected and disappointed by Thompson's fifth place finish, notwithstanding the fact, that, she repor....

17 April 2019

2019 Grenadian Invitational Recap

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By Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah)

The third staging of the Grenada Invitation took place at the Kirani James Stadium, on Saturday, April 13, 2019, featuring a galaxy of regional and international stars. The meet commenced with the men's 110m hurdles, in which the Jamaican Andrew Riley, won in 13.49s, ahead of Gregmar Swift, and compatriot, Orlando Bennett in 13.66s and 13.96s, respectively, in a +1.0 m/s wind speed. 1 157 ANDREW RILEY JAM M 13.49 2 107 GREGMAR SWIFT 13.66 3 139 ORLANDO BENNETT JAM 13.96 The next event on schedule was the female 100m hurdles, which was w....

05 April 2019

BCIC on track with Hydel High and Jamaica College

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By Press Release

General insurance company BCIC awarded a trophy and cash incentive to the Most Improved Female and Male Schools, Hydel High and Jamaica College for their impressive performances leading up to Champs 2019. BCIC support of the winning schools at the Digicel Grand Prix Finals/ GC Foster Classic showdown on March 16, with trophies and cash prizes of $25....

05 April 2019

Jamaica 2019 Champs Review

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By Sensenya Ben Nyah

For me, the 2019 edition of the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championship, will go down as one of the best ever. As usual, the attendance was great for Friday and Saturday. And while there were surprises and disappointments, the championship lived up to its billing. The seven-straight champions, Calabar, was dethroned by its nemesis, Kingston College, the competition's most successful school. Boys At the end of the Championship, KC amassed 395.5 points, the most by any school in the history of the competition, to establish an 82.5 points margin on their arch-rival, Calabar, who finished on 313 points. Jamaica College finished the competition in third place, on 232.5 points, and St. Jago High, in fourth place, on 106.5 points. St. Elizabeth Technical, on 90 points, rounded out the top five schools I would be remiss if I did not pause to express the hurt I felt for Christopher Taylor....

13 February 2019

Gardner and Teeters take the 60m Sprints (Millrose Games Recap)

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By O'Neil A. Reid

Using a reasonably good start, American English Gardner ran a controlled race to win the Ray Flynn women’s 60m race in 7.10 seconds ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle Lee-Aye (7.15 seconds) and American Javianne Oliver (7.19 seconds). The victory signaled great news for Gardner who has undergone several surgeries to address her injury woes. Gardner winning time of 7.10 seconds makes her the second fastest women over 60m this season. Only Poland’s Ewa Swoboda has gone faster (7.08 seconds). Gardner, a two-time 100m national champion and current volunteer assistant coach at Princeton University, by virtue of her Millrose Games performance, signaled that she is back to full fitness. Running out of lane 6, American John Teeters recovered from an average start to take the Joe Yancey Men’s 60m race in 6.56 seconds ahead of Ameer Webb (6.66) and Tevin Hester (6.69). The 25-year-old Teeter who has a personal best 6.52 seconds in the 60m which....

13 February 2019

Klosterhalfen and Kejelcha victorious in Wanamaker Mile (Millrose Games Recap)

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By O'Neil A. Reid

Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen and Ethopia’s Yomif Kejelcha were both victorious in the women’s and men’s NYRR Wanamaker Mile races. The Wanamaker Mile is the signature event at the Millrose Games and is rich in historical significance. Klosterhalfen won the women’s section in a world leading time of 4:19.98 ahead of Americans Colleen Quigley (4.22.86) and Kate Grace (4:24.27). Klosterhalfen took control of the race early and never relinquished the lead and cruised to an impressive time of 4:19.98, a new German national record. On the men’s side, Kejelcha also took control, in the middle of the race, and cruised to victory in an Ethiopian national record and world leading time of 3:48.46. Kejelcha finished ahead of Kenya’s Edward Cheserek (3:53.29) and American Clayton Murphy (3:53.30). Edited by Raymond Byfield Photo by: Joe Swift (Our World Media Magazine)....

13 February 2019

Nelvis and Allen took hurdles honors (Millrose Games Recap)

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By O'Neil A. Reid

American 60m hurdles indoor record holder Sharika Nelvis won the Howard Schmertz women’s 60m hurdles in 8.01 seconds just ahead of Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan (8.03) and Norway’s Isabelle Pederson (8.24). Nelvis is the reigning 60m indoor national champion. On the men’s side, Devon Allen captured the men’s 60m hurdles race in a season best time of 7.61 seconds ahead of Freddie Crittenden (7.61) and Chad Zallow (7.69). Photo-finish technology was used to determine the winner as Allen and Crittenden posted the same time of 7.61 seconds. Edited by: Raymond Byfield Photo by : Joe Swift (Our World Media Magazine)....