Track Ledger

19 August 2023

An Icon Delicately Perched on the Knife-Edge of History

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....

03 July 2023

The Rise of Zharnell Hughes

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By Henley Taylor

Zharnell Hughes is a citizen and athlete of the British-controlled Caribbean territory of Anguilla. Hughes is an affable and exciting sprinter, and has signaled his intention, to be a global superstar, from quite early in his Youth and Junior careers. Early years At the tender age of sixteen, while representing Great Britain, Hughes won the 200m at the 2012 Central American and Caribbean Youth Championship that was held in San Salvador, El Salvador. At that same Championship, he also capped a silver medal by virtue of his second place finish in the 100m. More international success At the 2012 Carifta Games that was held in Hamilton, Bermuda, while representing Anguilla, Hughes came third in the 100m to secure the bronze medal. One year later, at the 2013 Carifta Games that was held in Nassau, Bahamas, Hughes upgrade his bronze medal, to win gold in the said event. In that same year (2013), Zharnell Hughes als....

10 May 2023

Changes to ISSA’s Rules

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By Henley Taylor

Recently, the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) voted to amend the rules that limit the participation of foreign nationals in the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boy’s and Girl’s Championship (Champs). The rules will require foreign nationals who are sixteen-years or older to sit out one year. However, the “sit out” rule will not apply to foreign nationals who are under the age of sixteen-years-old or students who are the children of diplomats or expatriates. Currently, there is a quota system for foreign nationals that allows for a maximum of two athletes per class. The question is, what has necessitated these amendments when there has been no obvious abuse of the system? In my mind, ISSA is now behaving like a retrograde association in trying to further limit the participation of foreign nationals at Champs, especially when the event is growing leaps and bounds in appeal, popularity, interest and marketability. No rational basis for rul....

10 May 2023

Velocity Fest # 13 – Selected highlights

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By Henley Taylor

There were some great performances at the Velocity Fest #13 Track Meet held on April 22, 2023 at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The meet featured a blend of seasoned veterans like Shericka Jackson and Julian Forte and rising stars like Tia Clayton, Ackeem Blake, Kerrica Hill and Briana Williams. The Women’s 100m – Heats and Final The much anticipated women’s 100m final did not happen as was advertised. Belatedly, Tina Clayton, Jura Levy and Elaine Thompson-Herah withdrew from the event for reasons best known to them. There were a total of three heats. Heat 1 was won by Shericka Jackson in an almost effortless 11.05. Tia Clayton in 11.31 and Kasheika Cameron in 11.34, completed the top three automatic qualifiers. The wind speed was +0.8m/s. Heat 2 was won by Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas in a time of 11.30, while Sasha-Lee Forbes and Jonielle Smith were second and third, in 11.34 and 11.48, re....