Deon Hemmings-McCatty, the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic gold medal receiving a citation from artist Patrick Kitson during the launch of the book 50 Days Afire at the GC Foster College in Spanish Town, St Catherine on Thursday night. Hemmings-McCatty won the 400m hurdles at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta in an Olympic record 52.82s.
Deon Hemmings-McCatty created history at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 when she won the 400m hurdles to become the first woman from the Caribbean to win an Olympic gold medal.
Hemmings ran an Olympic record 52.82 holding off the challenge of Americans Kim Batten and Tonja Buford and etch her name into the annals of Jamaica track and field history. She would win a silver medal in the event at the Sydney Games in 2000 when she also won another silver medal as a member of Jamaica’s 4x400m relay team and cement her legacy as one of Jamaica’s great athletes.
Those exploits were recalled and celebrated at GC Foster College on Thursday night during the launch of 50 Days Afire, a book written by Michael A. Grant and Hubert Lawrence. The book chronicles 50 track and field performances that have defined Jamaica’s legacy in the sport.
Hemmings-McCatty’s accomplishments appear in the 260-page book that was the third undertaking between Grant and Lawrence over the past decade.
During the ceremony, a video of the reserved athlete’s triumphant run in Atlanta was shown after which she was presented with a citation created by artist Patrick Kitson.
Needless to say, she was overwhelmed by fact that her exploits were being celebrated and that her place in Jamaica’s track and field history has not been forgotten.
“It is a special occasion to know that after retiring for so long people still see the work or still remember the work that I have done and I will cherish this very special moment and I am thankful,” said Hemmings-McCatty, who retired in 2003, almost 20 years ago.
The event was attended by Olympian Vilma Charlton, Vice-Principal of GC Foster College Gibbs Williams, MVP President Bruce James and the granddaughters of GC Foster Andrea Roberts, Debbie Jardine and Heather Chin.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Tyra Gittens secures first professional win at International Meeting in Troyes
Trinidadian long jumper Tyra Gittens celebrated her first professional victory at the International Meeting in Troyes, France on Sunday.
The US-based Olympian secured the win with a leap of 6.56 meters, surpassing Portugal’s Evelise Veiga, who recorded a distance of 6.35 meters, the same as third-place finisher Esmeralda Yanis David of France.
Following her triumph, Gittens expressed her joy and gratitude on Instagram, writing, “Celebrating my very first professional WIN! ? Looking forward to many more! Thank you, everyone, who has been believing in me even when I struggled to see what was worth believing in. I love you all.”
Ackera Nugent and Donald Thomas impress at the 2024 New Life Invitational, but Jamaica’s 4x400m relay team falls short in Olympics bid
In encouraging displays of forms at the 2024 New Life Invitational in the Bahamas, Jamaica's Ackera Nugent and the Bahamas' Donald Thomas delivered standout performances on Sunday night.
Nugent, in her first full year as a professional, and Thomas, the seasoned high jumper, both set meet records in their respective events. However, the night ended on a bittersweet note for Jamaica as their 4x400m relay team failed to secure Olympic qualification despite a valiant effort.
Nugent, who has been sparingly raced this season, underscored her readiness for the upcoming Jamaican national championships with a dominant victory in the 100m hurdles.
Clocking a season-best 12.54 seconds, Nugent eased down after clearing the final hurdle, demonstrating both her confidence and control. This performance not only secured her the win but also broke the previous meet record held by fellow Jamaican Megan Tapper since 2023. Nugent’s coach, Chris Johnson, had recently expressed confidence in her form and training, and Sunday's performance was a testament to his faith. The USA’s Kaylah Robinson finished third with a time of 13.07 seconds, while Charisma Taylor trailed behind in second place, clocking 12.83 seconds.
In the men's high jump, the 39-year-old Thomas thrilled the home crowd by breaking his own meet record. Thomas cleared 2.28m, surpassing his previous mark of 2.26 meters set last year. His impressive jump secured him the top spot on the podium, with Jamaica’s Raymond Richards finishing second at 2.21m and Puerto Rico’s Luis Castro taking third with a clearance of 2.18m.
The night’s excitement culminated with the highly anticipated men's 4x400m relay, where Jamaica aimed to qualify for the Olympics by beating Zambia’s 2:59.11 or France’s 2:58.45. The Jamaican quartet put forth a formidable effort, setting a new meet record with a time of 2:59.75. Despite their remarkable performance, they fell short, leaving their hopes for Paris dashed.
Earlier in the evening, Antigua’s Joella Lloyd, who had already achieved the Olympic standard of 11.06 seconds at the NCAA West Regionals, won the Women's 100m. Lloyd clocked an impressive 11.15 seconds, outpacing Bahamian Camille Rutherford, who finished in 11.20 seconds, and 2013 World Championship silver medalist Murielle Ahoure-Demps, who came in third with a time of 11.24 seconds.
Record-breaking Pryce is SEC Track Athlete of the Year, Chris Johnson, Coach of the Year
The University of Arkansas celebrated a stellar year in track and field with significant South Central Region honours for the 2024 outdoor season. Senior sprinter Nickisha Pryce was named Track Athlete of the Year, while first-year head coach Chris Johnson was recognized as Coach of the Year, capping off an extraordinary season for the NCAA Division 1 Women's Champions.
Pryce, a standout athlete from St. Mary, Jamaica, entered the outdoor season with a personal best of 50.21 in the 400m. She made remarkable improvements, culminating in a collegiate and Jamaican record of 48.89 seconds, which she set while winning the NCAA 400m title. Pryce's victory spearheaded an unprecedented Arkansas sweep of the top four spots in the event, earning the Razorbacks a crucial 29 points towards their team total.
Throughout the season, Pryce demonstrated consistent progress, achieving career-best marks of 50.13, 49.72, 49.32, and finally 48.89. Her extraordinary performances were pivotal as Arkansas amassed 61 of its 63 championship points on the final day of the NCAA Championships. This remarkable achievement allowed Coach Johnson and his team to complete a sweep of the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor team championships in his debut season as head coach.
In addition to her NCAA title, Pryce also secured the SEC 400m title with a time of 49.32, which at the time ranked third on the collegiate all-time list. Her dominance in the 400m was instrumental in Arkansas's 1-2-3-5 finish at the SEC Championships, contributing 28 points to the team’s total.
Pryce's achievements have cemented her place in history as the first collegian and first Jamaican to run under 49 seconds in the 400m. She surpassed the 22-year-old Jamaican record of 49.30 set by Lorraine Fenton in 2002.
Her time of 48.89 also eclipsed the previous collegiate record of 49.13 set by fellow Razorback Britton Wilson in 2023. On the 2024 world list, Pryce ranks second behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who recorded a time of 48.75. Pryce’s time also ties her for 13th on the all-time world list alongside Mexico’s Ana Guevara from 2003.
The culmination of Arkansas's season was highlighted by an emphatic victory in the 4 x 400m relay at the NCAA Championships, where the Razorbacks set a collegiate record and world-leading time of 3:17.96. Pryce's impressive third-leg split of 49.19 was crucial in securing the title. This performance broke the previous collegiate record of 3:21.92 set by Arkansas at the NCAA West meet, narrowly surpassing Kentucky’s 3:21.93 from the 2022 SEC meet.
Coach Chris Johnson's leadership was instrumental in guiding the Razorbacks to these historic achievements. Under his guidance, Arkansas scored in eight different events to capture the NCAA outdoor team title, edging out Florida by four points. This victory followed their triumph at the NCAA Indoor meet, where they won by five points.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
