Posts by TrackLife International
Athlete vs. Coach in Budapest
Jamaica had its share of off-track drama at the Budapest World Championships. Reminiscent of a major disagreement between athletes and administration regarding Merlene Ottey replacing Peta-Gaye Dowdie in the 100m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Members of the Jamaica team paraded through the Olympic village with placards denouncing Ottey, who they said was allowed to…
Read MoreMoments of Highs and Lows in Budapest
USA’s Crouser Slides to Gold USA’s Ryan Crouser, the shot-put world record holder at 23.56m (77’-3¾”), managed to bring himself back from two blood clots in his lower leg as well as the stressing out over finding the safest treatment and wondering whether he would be able to defend his title in Budapest to heaving…
Read MoreYoung Jamaican Female Brigade Ready to Rumble
Tina Clayton There’s a small crew of young Jamaican female sprinters who seem mentally ready for the next level of sprinting; they are as talented and competitive as they are starry-eyed and fearless. Some are just out of high school, others are finishing their first year in college or as a professional, and, for the…
Read MoreNew York Grand Prix Did Not Disappoint, But…
The pandemic years are arguably well behind us; that became evident to track and field fans at the 24 June New York Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium, Randall’s Island, New York. This latest edition of the New York Grand Prix, to purists of track and field, did not disappoint. Gone were the days of great…
Read MorePenn Friday ’23 Was Wet, Windy, and Cold
As if the removal of the popular segment USA v. The World from the Penn Relays carnival wasn’t enough, the weather and temperature at this year’s edition, April 27-29, made things worse for athletes and spectators alike. It rained nonstop the entire day Friday and into Saturday; it was windy, cold, and just plain miserable. Athletes…
Read MoreA Case of Gender Disparity at Champs ’23
It was only the second day of the 113th annual ISSA Grace Kennedy-sponsored Jamaica national Boys and Girls High School Track and Field Championships (better known as Champs) when arguably the greatest history was made since its inception. It was truly historic when for the first time in the 113 years of Champs that a Class…
Read MoreWorld Women’s 100m: Who Will Wear the Coveted Crown?
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (35) is determined to leave Oregon with the 100m gold medal. She has the world-leading time of 10.67, and she has posted three sub-11secs three times this season. One full second behind her is fast-finishing compatriot Shericka Jackson (28) at 10.77. Nipping at Jackson’s heel is double double Olympic champion and their…
Read MoreJamaican Twin Girls Set To Go Pro
There are so many moving targets in Jamaican track and field, I can hardly focus on one thing. At the heart of these targets is the Jamaican saying: “Ef ih nuh guh suh, ih nier guh suh” (when you hear a rumor, if it’s not exactly the truth, parts of the truth lie somewhere in…
Read MoreShericka Jackson Dangerous in the 200m, But Don’t Jump the Gun
A sprinting machine named Shericka Jackson zoomed to the top of the world last Sunday evening after defeating her main Jamaican rivals in an anticipated 200m race at the Jamaica Trials in Kingston. The event was one of several of its kind in Europe and the Americas last Sunday (26) to select teams for the…
Read MoreJamaica Trials Will Reveal New Guards after Bolt, Powell, et al
Some years ago, Asafa Powell was Jamaica’s flag bearer in the flat 100m; that was after Raymond Stewart was the top male sprinter the country had. Fans lamented that Powell needed help so the country could have a competitive relay team, one that challenged the world again after Errol Stewart, Michael Fray, Clifton Forbes and…
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