Track Ledger

05 September 2016

Rio Reflections: Sprint queen Elaine Thompson takes sprint-double title

By O'Neil A Reid

With a population of just under 3.0 million, Jamaica had produced many great track athletes, including Herb McKenley, Arthur Wint, Donald Quarrie, Merlene Ottey, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Usain Bolt. At the Rio Olympics, a lot was expected of Usain Bolt and he delivered three gold medals in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relays. The trend continued with the emergence of sprinter Elaine Thompson who captured the women’s 100m and 200m titles in 10.71 and 21.78 seconds respectively. Fraser-Pryce and Thompson are both coached by Stephen Francis at MVP Track Club in Kingston, Jamaica. Fraser-Pryce's 2016 season was plagued by a toe injury which significantly hampered her training and preparation for Rio. She did however finish third behind Thompson in a season-best time of 10.86 seconds. What more can you ask of Fraser-Pryce? Thompson, who ran a lifetime best time of 10.70 seconds (+0.3mps) in the 100m at the 2016 Jamaican National Championship i....

04 September 2016

Rio Reflections: Shaunae Miller dives to victory in the women’s 400m

Olympics

By O'Neil A Reid

The Rio women’s 400m finals event was a hotly contested affair involving the much-anticipated showdown between the American Allyson Felix and the Bahamian Shaunae Miller. Miller took the title in a personal best time of 49.44 seconds ahead of Felix (49.51), with Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson (49.85) taking the bronze medal. However, it was the manner in which Miller won the title that had Felix’s fans up in arms and Miller’s fans in admiration. As Miller approached the finish line she dived across the line to claim the victory. Miller fell and laid on the track for several minutes before she gained her composure. The internet and social media were all over this story, with some fans saying that Miller cheated when she dived across the line and that she should have been disqualified. Other fans called from a change in the rules that athletes should not be allowed to claim victory by diving across the finish-line. H....

03 September 2016

Rio Reflections: Van Niekerk 400m World Record Performance

Olympics

By O'Neil A Reid

For close to 17 years, the men’s 400m world record of 43.18 seconds set by American Michael Johnson in August 1999 seemed unbreakable. Many track fans wondered if this record would ever be broken. Over the years, Americans Quincy Watts (43.50), Jeremy Wariner (43.45) and LaShawn Merritt (43.65) seem to be the heir apparent to continue the U.S. stranglehold on the men’s 400m world record. After all, since 1968 the 400m world record was held by Americans Lee Evans (43.68- October 18, 1968), Butch Reynolds (43.29- August 17, 1988) and Michael Johnson (43.18 – August 26, 1999). Over the last few decades, with the exception of Grenada’s Kirani James, the U.S. had continued its dominance in the men’s 400m as evidence by its deep 4x400m relay pool. But at the 2016 Rio Olympics, a 24 year old South African named Wayne Van Niekerk changed everything. Van Niekerk showed up in Rio and had one of the most memorable performances when h....

02 September 2016

2016 Olympic Recap: Bolt claims triple-triple

Olympics

By O'Neil A Reid

On the eve of the 2016 Rio Olympics, there were doubts about the health and fitness of the fastest man on the planet, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt. After all, he had an injury-plagued 2016 season, highlighted by his withdrawal from the Jamaican National Trial back on July 1. Bolt, who turned 30 years old on August 21, was perceived by his rivals to be vulnerable and the Olympics were a great opportunity to dethrone the sprint king. Heading into Rio, Bolt had won a combined 6 gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and was on the verge of pursuing an unprecedented triple-triple or 9 gold medals. The 6’5” Trelawny-born and Glen Mills-coached athlete would not be denied. Bolt retained his 100m title by coming from behind to beat American Justin Gatlin (9.89) and Canadian Andre De Grasse (9.91). Bolt winning time of 9.81 seconds (+0.2mps) was significantly slower than his personal best and world record time of 9.58 seconds. Next for Bolt was th....

16 August 2016

A tribute to sprint queen, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

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By O'Neil A Reid

The women’s 100m race at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games was tailor-made and well-scripted for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. After all, Fraser-Pryce won 100m Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing and the 2012 London Olympics Games and was poised to make history by becoming the first female athlete to win three consecutive 100m Olympic titles. But a toe injury has severely hampered the Stephen Francis-trained Fraser-Pryce. Her season was marred with sub-par performances, but the Pocket Rocket, as she is affectionately called, chose the biggest stage of the 2016 season to run a season best of 10.86 seconds (+0.5mps) to take the bronze medal behind countrywoman Elaine Thompson (10.71) and American Torie Bowie (10.83). Fraser-Pryce’s attitude and demeanor during the post-race celebration was admirable and delightful. Despite her disappointment in not achieving the Olympic triple, she was gracious in defeat. She embraced her fellow medalists and was an obviously calming influe....

16 August 2016

Usain Bolt wins third 100m Olympic title.

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By O'Neil A. Reid

Usain St. Leo Bolt solidified his legendary status last Sunday night (August 14) when he captured his third consecutive 100m title in a season best time of 9.81 seconds (+0.2mps). The 29 year old Jamaican delivered a gutsy and impressive performance to take his fifth individual Olympic title, beating the feisty American, Justin Gatlin (9.89); Canada’s Andre De Grasse (9.91) settled for third and Bolt’s teammate, Yohan Blake, finished in 4th place (9.93). Heading into his final Olympic Games, Bolt was injury-plagued which severely hampered his training and even lead to his early exit from the Jamaican National Trials back in late-June. Bolt applied for and received medical exemption and was offered the opportunity to prove his fitness heading into the Rio Games. At the London Anniversary Games in July, Bolt confirmed his readiness for competition when he won the 200m in a season best time of 19.89 seconds. On Sunday night, while the who....

25 July 2016

Usain Bolt and Fraser-Fryce seek three-peat in Rio

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By O'Neil A Reid

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) recently named 57 athletes and 17 officials for the 2016 Rio Olympics Games set from August 5-21, 2016. The XXXI Olympiad will feature a strong Jamaican team lead by six-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt. Bolt will be seeking an unprecedented three-peat as he is scheduled to defend his 100m and 200m titles, which he has won in Beijing 2008 and successfully defended in London 2012. The team also features Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who is also seeking a three-peat of her own, as she tackles her specialty, the 100m. Fraser-Pryce won the women’s 100m title in 2008 and successfully defended her title in London 2012. Perhaps Fraser-Pryce main challenge will come from teammate Elaine Thompson (ET), who ran a blistering 10.70 seconds recently to equal the Jamaican national record. Thompson is schedule for the 100/200m sprint double, while Fraser-Pryce will focus only on the 100m. Men....

23 July 2016

Sydney McLaughlin Living a Teenage Dream

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By O'Neil A. Reid

Most American teenagers can only dream of making it to the Olympics. After all, the USA Olympic Trials that currently span over 10 days, is one of the most rigorous competitions to overcome just to qualify for the Olympics. The immense pressure and little margin for error can unnerve the most seasoned athletes. Natural talent is just not enough to make the team; drive, determination and mental toughness are necessary to beat the odds. Sixteen-year-old Sydney McLaughlin beats those odds. Sydney, a junior at Union Catholic High School in New Jersey, became the youngest American to qualify for the Olympic team since Cindy Gilbert (15 years and 75 days) did so back in 1972. Sydney finished 3rd in the 400m hurdles at the USA Trials, setting the world junior record in a personal best time of 54.15 seconds to book her ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics. This was a remarkable feat by the teenager, who was completing against collegians and professionals.&nbs....

10 July 2016

Jaheel Hyde Leads Jamaica’s U20 World Team

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By O'Neil A Reid

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) recently announced its 51-member team to the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championship schedule for Bydgoszcz, Poland from July 19-24, 2016. Former world junior champion, Jaheel Hyde headlines the team. Hyde, a graduate of Wolmer’s Boys school in Kingston, will lead a team of 40 athletes and 11 officials. This is good news for Hyde who by virtue of his 2nd place finish in the 400m hurdles at the Jamaican Trials a week ago (July 1, 2016), in a personal best time of 48.81 seconds has also qualified for the Rio Olympics. The Rio Olympics is set for August 5-22, 2016. Hyde, a very versatile hurdler, has already captured global titles in both the 110m and 400m hurdles events. Ellis, Bloomfield and Taylor The 40-member team consists of 22 male and 18 female athletes who are the top Jamaican junior athletes. On the boy’s side, in addition to Hyde; Akeem Bloomfield, Ch....

01 July 2016

Day 1 Jamaican Trials Recap – Bolt and Fraser-Pryce advance

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By O'Neil A Reid

The first day of the 2016 Jamaican Senior Championship saw reigning Olympic sprint champions, Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, advancing to the next round of the men’s and women’s 100m. In addition to the false start infraction committed by Julian Forte, Bolt was visible annoyed with the delayed at the start of the race. Bolt overcame a slow start to win Heat 4, stopping the clock in 10.15 seconds (+0.3mps) ahead of Everton Clarke (10.16) and Michael Frater ((10.31). Fraser-Pryce ran a smooth and composed race to win heat 3 in 11.38 seconds (-1.3mps) ahead of Remona Burchell (11.59) and Natasha Morrison (11.61). Minzie and Ashmeade move on Twenty-year- old Jevaughn Minzie captured heat 1 of the men’s 100m in 10.15 seconds (-1.1mps) ahead of Senoj-Jay Givans (10.16) and Asafa Powell (10.17). This was Minzie’s first victory over Powell, the former world record holder. Powell ran an incredibly relaxed ....