Track Ledger

19 August 2023

The defending Champions, will they successfully defend titles in Budapest

By Henley Taylor

Men’s 100m Will American Fred Kerley defend his 2022 World Championship title in Budapest or will there be the crowning of a new champion? To date, Kerley has posted the third fastest time of 9.88 seconds for the season. However, Zharnell Hughes of Great Britain and Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya have posted faster times of 9.83 and 9.84, respectively. The American has a personal best of 9.76; he won the 100m at the 2022 World Championship in 9.86, slower than the 9.79 that he posted in the semifinals. Will the World Champion repeat or will he be dethroned? Just how will Kerley fare against these and other quality sprinters like Marcell Jacobs, Cravont Charleston, Christian Coleman, Noah Lyles, Rohan Watson, Oblique Seville and Akani Simbine? It is the opinion of the writer that there will be a crowning of a new Champion. Women’s 100m The defending 100m Champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, has not been active on ....

19 August 2023

Preview of the 2023 Budapest World Championship from a Jamaica Perspective

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By Henley Taylor

The 2023 Budapest World Championship will open in another few days, on August 19, and promises much from a Jamaican standpoint. In fact, based on the all-round strength of the Jamaican team, Jamaica could top its best medal haul of thirteen (13) that was done in 2009 and 2013. In 2009, Jamaica won seven (7) gold, four (4) bronze and two (2) silver, while in 2013, Jamaica won six (6) gold, two (2) silver and five (5) bronze. In looking at the team that has been selected for Budapest, Jamaica should be very competitive on the track, and in the field. Indeed, it is quite conceivable that Jamaica could secure as many as twenty medals across all disciplines. And should this happen, it would be an historic feat of accomplishment. But, just where does Jamaica intend to garner these medals? Women’s 100m Notwithstanding the competitiveness and openness of the women’s 100m this year, Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce should....

19 August 2023

Who is the GOAT of female sprinting?

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By Henley Taylor

The Greatest of All Times (GOAT) must be determined by individual effort and results obtained at global championships and not by team efforts like relays or by performance at any other type of championship, except of course, where there is need for a tie-breaker. To determine the GOAT of the short sprints, only three women enter the conversations. In chronological order, these are Florence Griffith-Joyner of the United States, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah, both of Jamaica. Top -Three Florence Griffith-Joyner enters the conversations based on her two World Records of 10.49* and 21.34 in the 100m and 200m, respectively, along with the two individual gold medals that she won at the 1988 Seoul Olympics Games. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce enters the conversations based on the two individual gold medals that she won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics and the six individual gold medals that sh....

19 August 2023

An Icon Delicately Perched on the Knife-Edge of History

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By Henley Taylor

Elaine Thompson-Herah, the Jamaican 100m/200m specialist sprinter, came to national and global prominence at the 2015 Beijing World Championship, where she debuted and won silver in the 200m, posting a nippy 21.66. On that occasion, Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands won gold in a Championship Record of 21.63. Incidentally, both Schippers and Thompson-Herah broke the then Championship Record of 21.71, which was previously held by Silky Moller of Germany. Thompson-Herah’s Challenges Between 2015 and 2022, Thompson-Herah has failed to win an individual World title at four consecutive Championships. However, in 2022, for the first time, she won bronze in the 100m, playing an uncharacteristic third-string to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson, respectively. The current 2023 season has proven to be very challenging for Thompson-Herah. In fact, it is Thompson-Herah’s worst year, having failed to finish in the top three in the 100....

29 July 2023

Faith Kipyegon sizzles in world record performance at Monaco Diamond League Meet

Diamond League

By Henley Taylor

The Monaco Diamond League Meet, the nineth stop on the 2023 Diamond League circuit held on the July 21, 2023, was highlighted by several exceptional performances. Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) broke the world record in the women’s mile. Shericka Jackson (Jamaica) and Karsten Warholm (Norway) both posted impressive performances in the women’s 200m and men’s 400m hurdles events, respectively. Nia Ali (USA) and Wyclife Kinyamal (Kenya) posted world leading times in the women’s 100m hurdles and the men’s 800m, respectively. Another world record for Faith Kipyegon in the Women's Mile Faith Kipyegon of Kenya produced another scintillating run when she posted a World Record of 4:07.64 in the mile final. By virtue of this victory Faith solidified herself as the best track and field athlete on the circuit as this was her third world record of the season. With 200m remaining in the event, Faith decimated the field by buil....

25 July 2023

A Review of the 2023 JAAA National Senior Championship

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By Henley Taylor

The 2023 JAAA National Senior Championship took place at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica from Thursday, July 6 to Sunday, July 9. There were several outstanding performances, as also, a few disappointments. Many first-time champions were crowned including Rohan Watson (100m), Nickisha Pryce(400m), Rajay Hamilton (400m) and Jaydon Hibbert (triple jump). Shericka Jackson took the women’s sprint double titles in impressive fashion, while Andrew Hudson (200m), Janieve Russell (400m hurdles) and Natoya Goule-Toppin (800m) all successfully defended their titles. Men’s 100m Final The men’s 100m final did not go true to form. In fact, there were quite a few upsets and disappointments. To begin, many times National Champions and former World Champion, Yohan Blake was disqualified from the final. And, notwithstanding the fact, that, he was given a reprieve, he failed to advance to the final. Surprisingly, the event was won by a ....

25 July 2023

Ta Lou, Tebogo, Crouser and Bol victorious at Lausanne Diamond League Meet

Diamond League

By Henley Taylor

At the Lausanne Diamond League Meet held at the Stade Olympique dela Pontaise in Switzerland on June 29- 30, 2023, there were several impressive performances by athletes who are gearing up for the Budapest World Championship set for later this summer. Marie Josse Ta Lou (Cote D’ivoire), Letsile Tebogo (Botswana), Ryan Crouser (USA) and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (Puerto Rico) all posted outstanding victories in their respective events. Marie Josse Talou of Cote D’ivoire continued her rich vein of form in winning the women’s 100m final in 10.88. The 34-year-old Ta Lou who is known for her bullet start, easily took the victory and was the only runner to dip below sub-11 seconds. Daryll Neita of Great Britain was second in 11.07, and Gina Luckenkemper of Germany was third in 11.17, a similar time as Ewa Swoboda of Poland, who was given fourth place. The field was rounded-out by Zoe Hobbs of New Zealand (11.20), Imani Lansiquot of Great Britain (11.24), Murielle A....

23 July 2023

Warholm, Amusan, Simbine and Neita post victories in Stockholm.

Diamond League

By Henley Taylor

Karsten Warholm (Norway), Tobi Amusan (Nigeria), Akani Simbine (South Africa) and Daryll Neita (Great Britain) all posted impressive victories at the Stockholm Diamond League Meet held at Olympic Stadium, Sweden on July 2, 2023. The Olympic and World Champion, Karsten Warholm of Norway, showed his dominance yet again, when he posted 47.57, to win the men’s 400m hurdles. Warholm, who is the world record holder in the event at a mind-blowing 45.94, is coming off an injury-plagued 2022 season is gradually recapturing his magic. His running style of “catch me if you can” was too much for his competitors in Stockholm. Warholm finished ahead of Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Island (48.94) and Rasmus Magi of Estonia (49.04). The field was rounded-out by Alessandro Sibilio of Italy (49.11), Wilfred Happio of France (49.67), Ludvy Vaillant of France (49.91), Oskar Edlund of Sweden (50.35) and Yasmani Copello of Turkey (50.59).

23 July 2023

Fraser-Pryce Sizzles in 100m season opener (10.82) at Luzern Meet

Diamond League

By Henley Taylor

The reigning World Champion, Shelly Fraser-Pryce won the women’s 100m A final in a new Meet Record of 10.82 at the Spitzen Leichtathletik Luzern Meet on Thursday July 20, 2023. This event is a World Continent Silver event that was held at the Stadion Allmend in Switzerland. This was Fraser-Pryce’s first 100m of the season, and she did not disappoint her adoring fans. Fraser-Pryce got her usual bullet start and was able to separate from the rest of the field to stop the clock in 10.82 seconds. Zoe Hobbs of New Zealand was second in 11.08, while Kennedy Blackmon of the USA was third in 11.11. The top half of the field was completed my Moralake Akinosun of the USA, who posted 11.17 for fourth. The field was rounded-out by Natasha Morrison (11.18), Melissa Jefferson (11.20), Mujinga Kambundji (11.24SB) and Briana Williams (11.35). The wind reading was -0.3m/s. Fraser-Pryce is recovering from an injury that has delayed the start of her season. She however competed i....

06 July 2023

Elaine Thompson-Herah runs pedestrian 11.23 in season opener

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By Henley Taylor

Having not performed for more than two months, speculations were rife concerning Elaine Thompson-Herah’s general fitness level and readiness or whether she would even show-up for the JAAA National Senior Trials. In some track and field circles, many were of the view that Thompson-Herah would have abandoned the 2023 season altogether. In a post-race interview, the double-double Olympic Champion revealed her battles with multiple and persistent injuries that have impacted her general preparations, which almost resulted in her quitting track and field. When Elaine Thompson-Herah finally showed-up on June 24, 2023, and opened her 2023 season in the 100m, there was a big sigh of relief and joy from her adoring and loyal fans. Pedestrian time of 11.23 Thompson-Herah posted a pedestrian 11.23 in the 100m for her season opener to win the event. Clearly, there was little or no real competition in that four-athlete race. On the surface, 11.23 does su....