21 June 2019

The Review of the Women's 100m Heats - National Senior Trials

By Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah)

No Surprises – Fraser-Pryce and Briana Williams advances As expected, Elaine Thompson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Briana Williams all dominated their heats, to advance to the Semi Finals of the Women's 100m, on Friday, June 21, 2019. In Heat #1, two times 100m Olympic Champion, and three times 100m World Champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, won in 11.08, ahead of Gayon Evans of Sprintec, who posted 11.30, while Simone Facey ran 11.38 to claim the final automatic qualifying spot. Heat #2 featured the reigning double Olympic Champion and Joint National Record Holder, Elaine Sandra Lee Thompson, who made light work of her competitors, winning in an almost effortless 11.31. Schillonie Calvert-Powell clocked 11.39 for second place, while Remona Burchell and Rene Medley both crossed the finish line at 11.44. In Heat #3, the seventeen year old sensation, and fast rising sta....

21 June 2019

The Jamaican Senior Track and Field Champs Preview

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By Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah)

INFLEXIBLE DATE Contrary to rumors that the National Senior Trials has been deferred to July, it is in fact. set for this week, between June 20 - 24. Apparently, there was no adjustment made to the National Senior Trials consistent with the one-month delay of the World Championship. As to why this was not done, is a mystery to me. Clearly, the US like Jamaica, had fore-knowledge of the one-month delay of the World Championship, and made the necessary adjustment to the start date of its National Senior Trials. Therefore, why did not the JAAA do same? Anyway, it is what it is, and so coaches must adjust the training regime of athletes, to peak them for National Senior Trials, and then later, for the World Championship. Notwithstanding the inflexible date for the National Senior Trials, I am very anxious to see our athletes on show. Personally, I am very anxious to see which Yohan Blake will report for the National Senior Trials.....

11 June 2019

The Women's 100m: The changing landscape, and the great anticipation

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By Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah)

The Women's 100m final at the World Championship that will be held in Qatar, between late September and early October, is shaping up to be a cracker, something to salivate on. With the emergence of the 19-year-old new sensation, Sha'Carri Richardson to the track and field landscape, things are getting really interesting. No one saw her on the radar. Well, I did not. I first took note of her when she posted 10.99 over the 100m, a few days ago. But when she ran that amazing 10.75 in Texas, yesterday, a new Collegiate and World Junior Record, my eyes popped out, as she sounded a warning to all concerned. And that 10.75 was done in a positive 1.6 m/s wind reading, and is the fastest time recorded over the 100m this year, for women. What does this mean for Jamaica? Jamaica's two elite and ace sprinters in Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson, have posted times of 10.88 and 10.89, respectively, over ....

24 May 2019

Shanghai Diamond League Recap

Diamond League

By O'Neil A. Reid

The Shanghai Diamond League meet held on Saturday May 18, 2019 was filled with several outstanding performances, including over 7 world-leads and several meet records. On the men’s side Americans Noah Lyles and Fred Kerley, Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba and Germany’s Andreas Hofmann all posted impressive victories. While on the women’s side Aleia Hobbs, Salwa Eid Naser, Beatrice Chepkoech and Huihui Lyu also posted impressive victories. With the 2019 World Championship schedule for Qatar later this year, and with Nationals trials set for June, athletes are using the Diamond League meets to fine-tune their craft as well as to garner some much needed funds that are available at the end of the Diamond League season. Lyles edged Coleman The future of American sprinting was on fully display in Shanghai as the much anticipated clash between Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman in the men’s 100m certainly lived-up ....

21 May 2019

Recap of the 2019 Penn Relays

Penn Relays

By Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah),

The Penn Relays celebrated its 125th anniversary or quasquicentennial, at the Franklin Field Stadium, between Thursday, April 25, 2019 and Saturday, April 27, 2019. The celebration saw numerous dominant performances by Jamaican high schools both on the track and in the field. Pinnock & Chang Win Boy's Champs and CARIFTA Games champion, Kingston College's Wayne Pinnock, won the long Jump for the second consecutive year, in 7.87m, just one centimeter shy of his last year's mark of 7.88m. Jordan Turner of Calabar was second in 7.59m. Shaquille Lowe, also of the famed purples, Kingston College (‘KC”), finished third in 7:42m, to round out the top three finishers. Calabar's Kai Chang was in a class all by himself, throwing well over 60 meters to win the High School Boy's Discus. No other thrower was able to join him in the "60m club". Chang, the Boys and Girls Champs, and ....

18 May 2019

Elaine Thompson in Perspective

Diamond League

By Henley Taylor (Sensenya Ben Nyah)

What must we make of Elaine Thompson's 11.14 run in the 100m, at the Shanghai Diamond League meet, today? Firstly, despite being off the mark, it is Thompson first major assignment for the season. Secondly, it is Thompson's Season's Best performance, in what will be a very long season, leading up to the World Championship in Doha, Qatar. Thirdly, it is good to see Thompson back on the international circuit, after an injury plagued season, last year, and finishing without injury. Should we be concerned? But what is 11.14 telling us at this time, about the phenomenal Thompson? Even though we do not expect her to be firing on all cylinders, so early, Thompson is usually ahead of the pack just the same. So what is a third-place finish indicating to us, about her? What really might we conclude about ....

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....