As the track and field season heats up, armchair commentators, or maybe Monday morning quarterbacks, continue to make predictions, in this, the year of the XXXIII Olympiad, to be held in the French capital, Paris.
From the Jamaican landscape, pundits have long speculated about outcomes, as far as the women’s short sprints are concerned, and the Big Three: Elder stateswoman Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who plans an exit from the big stage after Paris, two-time defending champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, and relatively new kid on the block Shericka Jackson.
As these three plan an all-out assault on the women’s short sprint, Jamaicans have long looked for young talent to someday take over the mantle, and have found many, including the in-form Brianna Lyston. She attends college in the US and has been burning up the track, indoors and outdoors. The precocious 20-yr-old boasts current legal times of 10.91secs and 22.31secs, in the 100m and 200m, respectively.
Hope springs eternal, so when word got out earlier this week that she has decided to end her 2024 campaign, the news sparked debate among those in track and field circles. Many people believed that she could have copped a spot, among the Top Three, in an individual event. She was also expected to present formidable support to the island’s sprint relay squad. Alas, that will not be, at least not this year, not these Olympic Games.
Baseless Claims
Many people suspect, without proof, that Brianna wants to represent the US instead. This allegiance switch is not new, as Jamaica has benefitted from this arrangement multiple times. I point to Briana Williams and Adele Tracy, both of whom currently wear the Jamaican outfit. Rewind to the Eighties with Sandra Farmer-Patrick and Merlene Ottey in the 2000s, both who transferred from Jamaica.
As far as Ms. Lyston is concerned, if she decides to make a bid for future US teams (it takes time for process completion and paperwork), she might, by fate of that act, commit a cardinal sin, in the eyes of her country folk. Oral Tracy, a Jamaica sports commentator, believes Brianna’s ‘American accent’ is a testament to the validity of the current conversation. I prefer to take a more fundamental approach, however.
Ms Lyston has a right to make moves that suit her life’s direction, at any time. True, it would be disappointing for her supporters and Jamaicans on the whole, but it’s her decision; hers alone. As earlier indicated, Individuals have switched allegiances from time to time and although it would be a big blow to have ‘lost’ her, if the intent is to leave, it’s water under the bridge. She, by all accounts, is a woman on a speed mission, so get out of her way.
Devolution of Journalistic Culture
Mr Tracy is entitled to his opinion, truly, but basing it heavily on the track debutante’s (a move into the big leagues) ‘American’ accent is going up a slippery slope. Former Jamaican prime minister Michael Manley called it, going up the down escalator). Consequently, Mr Tracy might have missed the sound or misunderstood the ‘American’ accent. He has thus probably missed the ‘real’ reason for the athlete’s crusade.
Finally, serious journalists have serious sources and do not usually speak off the cuff. When such an opportunity is missed, we end up with a devolution of the journalistic culture of which Mr Tracy seemingly belongs.
Ms Lyston has used her social media platform to rubbish the claims by Mr. Tracey, et al.