29 March 2022

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

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 ....

14 February 2022

Thompson-Herah and Parchment win 2021 RJR-Gleaner Foundation Awards

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By Henley Taylor

As was expected, Hansle Parchment and Elaine Thompson-Herah were awarded the 61st. RJR-Gleaner Foundation male and female athlete of the year. The award was the final local award for the 2021 athletic season. Indeed, this award was the second for Thompson-Herah and the first for Hansle Parchment. Both athletes, in their respective acceptance speeches, expressed their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for being chosen for the prestigious award. Heartfelt speeches Thompson-Herah speech was extemporaneous and struck the right chords. The speech was sober and motivational, and sought to inspire young and upcoming athletes. She declared that she aims to become a better version of herself in 2022. That spoke volume of her intentions to become the undisputed greatest female sprinter of all times. Hansle Parchment acceptance speech was scripted but was no less impactful. It was laced with gratitude and appreciation to ....

03 January 2022

A poor decision by the Association of National Olympic Committee

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By Henley Taylor

Twenty-nine-year-old Jamaican Elaine Thompson-Herah won three gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, including two individual gold medals and one relay gold medal. In so doing, she set an Olympic Record of 10.61 in the 100m to erase Florence Griffith-Joyner's thirty-three-year-old Olympic Record of 10.62. McNeil rewarded Thompson-Herah also ran an amazing 21.53 in the 200m, the second fastest time posted in the history of female sprinting, and yet the Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC) has seen it fit to bypass her and to name the Canadian Swimmer, Maggie McNeil, the Best Female Performer at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The Canadian won three medals: one gold, one silver and one bronze. That is a vastly inferior combo compared with the three gold medals won by Elaine Thompson-Herah Favoritism personified It is reasonable to conclude that the ANOC has gotten it radica....

02 December 2021

Nesta Carter handed four-year ban for second doping violation

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By Kayon Raynor (Reuters)

KINGSTON, Jamaica Dec 1 (Reuters) - Retired sprinter Nesta Carter avoided the maximum punishment for a second doping violation on Wednesday when Jamaica's Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel handed him a four-year ban for the use of the banned drug Clomiphene.

02 November 2021

Yulimar Andrea Rojas Rodriguez in Perspective

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By Henley Taylor

We have often focused our attention disproportionately on track athletics, and paying scant regard to field events. But, on this occasion, we will focus our attention on the twenty-five-year-old, Yulimar Rojas, who is regarded by many as the greatest female triple jumper in history. Just how good is this 1.92m or 6ft 4" Venezuelan triple jumper? At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Rojas finished second to Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia. The winning distance then was 15.17m. And, it was at that Olympics that special note was being taken of the tall and lanky Venezuelan, who, at the time, was only twenty years old. One year later, at the 2017 London World Championship, the twenty-one-year-old, Yulimar Rojas, turned the tables on her arch-rival, Caterine Ibarguen, winning in a competitive distance of 14.91m. This was to mark a trend of consistency and superlative performance, by the animated and talented Venezuelan. At the 2019 Beijing World Championship, ....

29 October 2021

SWOT Analysis - Elaine Thompson-Herah (Oct 29, 2021)

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By Henley Taylor

Strength Elaine Thompson-Herah is a rare and gifted sprinter in the 100m and 200m. She has remarkable speed and speed endurance. And she is very experienced at global Championships, having gone to two Olympics and three World Championships. Indeed, Elaine Thompson-Herah is the second fastest woman in history in both sprint events, and posting the most sub 10.70 seconds in any one season, four in total, 10.61, 10.54, 10.64 and 10.65. Thompson-Herah has also won the Diamond League trophy on three occasions, dating back to 2015. The most recent being in 2021. Weaknesses Thompson-Herah's doesn't have many glaring weaknesses; she is technically sound as a sprinter. However, her start needs improvement. Also, at this time, there needs to be some settling down with what will be her agreed final training environment. Personally, I do hope that notwithstanding some of the contentious and difficult issues at MVP, sh....