In a dazzling display of speed and composure under pressure, Jamaica's Shashalee Forbes claimed victory in the 60m dash at the ISTAF Indoor Meeting in Dusseldorf, Germany on Sunday, continuing her stellar early-season form.
Forbes, the world championships relay silver medalist from Budapest in 2023, has been a dominant force over 60m this season, consistently proving herself as the fastest Jamaican in various conditions. Earlier in the season, she clocked 7.03 outdoors at the Queens/Grace Jackson Invitational on January 27 on the back of a strong performance of 7.14 at the Central Hurdles, Relays, and Field Events meeting a week earlier.
On Sunday, Forbes elevated her performance to new heights, setting a personal best of 7.11 in the 60m dash. N'Ketia Seedo of the Netherlands trailed in her wake with a commendable 7.15, achieving a personal best in a race in which the top four participants all recorded lifetime best performances. Germany's Alexandra Burghardt secured the final podium spot with a time of 7.20.
Expressing her excitement after the remarkable victory, Forbes revealed her eagerness for upcoming challenges. "I feel pretty great about this victory, and I am just looking for a next PB, a next run. But so far, I feel really good about this. This time, 7.11s, means a lot to me, my first time doing all this this season," she remarked.
Forbes isn't slowing down, with two more meetings lined up in Poland and New York. "I am not staying in Europe for indoors, but you guys should watch me there," she teased.
The consistent success she has enjoyed this season fuels Forbes' anticipation for the World Indoor Championships in Scotland next month. Forbes sees this event as a crucial step toward her ultimate goal of representing Jamaica at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
"Glasgow is on my roadmap. Every championship is always on my roadmap; it is another opportunity to be great. And it is also a preparation for Paris. I really hope to get the chance to represent my country in Paris," she expressed, highlighting the significance of the upcoming competitions on her calendar.
Jamaica's Christania Williams, on her comeback trail, secured the fifth position with a time of 7.30 in the intense competition.
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.
KC wins third straight Championship of America 4x400m title at Penn Relays; JC wins 4x800m
Kingston College made it three Championship of America 4x400m titles in a row with a comfortable win in the event on the third and final day of the 128th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Their quartet of Antonio Forbes, Amal Glasgow, Roshawn Lee and Marcinho Rose combined to run 3:11.86 to win ahead of Excelsior (3:12.94) and Bullis School (3:13.10).
Elsewhere, Jamaica College won their second Championship of America 4x800m relay in three years.
Their team of Nellie Amberton, Samuel Creary, Rasheed Pryce and Kemarrio Bygrave produced a time of 7:42.37 to win ahead of St. John’s College (7:44.66) and Central Bucks West (7:45.99).
Excelsior leads Jamaican 1-2-3 in Championship of America High School Boys 4x100m at Penn Relays
Excelsior High emerged victorious in the Championship of America High School Boys 4x100m on the third and final day at the 128th Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Their quartet of Ryeem Walker, Damor Miller, Malike Nugent and Lennon Green combined to run 40.45 to secure the school’s first win in the event since 1967.
Kingston College (Daniel Clarke, Yourie Lawrence-Clarke, Nyrone Wade, Marcinho Rose) were second in 40.53 and Herbert Morrison (Ky-Mani Hemmings, Tavaine Stewart, Chance Segree, De Andre Daley) completed a Jamaican 1-2-3 with 40.56 in third.
Smith produces season’s best to win long jump at Texas Invitational
Texas junior Ackelia Smith produced an NCAA leading performance to take top spot on day one of the Texas Invitational at the Mike A. Myers Stadium on Friday.
The 22-year-old reigning NCAA champion produced a season’s best 7.10m, her first jump over 7m this season, to win ahead of Trinidadian Puma athlete Tyra Gittens (6.72m) and UTSA’s Ida Breigan (6.65m).
This is a welcome return to form for Smith who suffered a torn hamstring at the NCAA Indoor Championships in early March.
Smith was Jamaica’s national champion in the long jump in 2022 and was a finalist in both the long and triple jump at that year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
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