Bahamian superstar sprinter Shaunae Miller-Uibo has her sights set on establishing a new world record in the women’s 400 metres.
The reigning two-time Olympic 400 metres champion has a personal best of 48.36 which makes her the sixth fastest woman of all time. She achieved the time in a dominant display in the 400 final on her way to defending her title in Tokyo.
Speaking with Sportsmax.TV's Leighton Levy in an On Point to air on Sportsmax.TV’s YouTube Channel and app this Friday, (November 19) Miller-Uibo expressed that even the thought of challenging the world record is new territory for women’s 400 metres sprinters. Marita Koch's world record of 47.60 has been standing since 1985.
“Yeah definitely, I think there was a time where it was almost like people weren’t looking at the record but just seeing how far you can go in the 400,” the statuesque Bahamian said
The multiple world championship medallist credits her years of experience competing at the highest level as being among the reasons she now has her sights set on Koch’s 36-year-old mark while also noting there’s still more work to be done.
“I’ve put in a lot of work over these past seasons and I’ve learned a lot about the event and as my times continue to drop, I think we still have a long way to go,” she said.
Miller-Uibo also takes confidence from the fact that she was able to produce 48.36 during a season that was interrupted by injuries.
“Just being able to run 48.36 off of the season that I had. I think there’s so much more in store,” she said.
Even if she does not achieve the world record, the Bahamian says her main goal is to dip below the 48 second barrier for the first time.
“The main goal is definitely going to be to try and drop below the 48-second barrier. The world record is in sight and we’re definitely going to go out and try to go after it very hard and see where we fall with it,” she said.
If she does manage to break 48 seconds, Miller-Uibo would become only the third woman in history to do so after the 47.99 done in 1983 by Jarmila Kratochvilova and Marita Koch’s world record of 47.60.
The full interview with Shaunae Miller-Uibo can be seen on the Sportsmax YouTube channel and app this Friday.
Bradley Jacks is a budding journalist and an avid sports fan. His love of research and sports has led him to SportsMax.tv, a place where those passions work hand in hand to allow him to produce content.
JustBet signs three dynamic athletes as brand ambassadors ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics
With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, JustBet has announced a significant partnership with three prominent Jamaican athletes as part of its latest campaign. The renowned sports brand, under Supreme Ventures Limited, is thrilled to welcome Reggae Boyz captain and goalkeeper Andre Blake, Olympian Stacy-Ann Williams, and motorsports sensation Fraser McConnell into its fold.
Scheduled for July 26 to August 11 in Paris, the upcoming Olympic Games serve as the backdrop for this exciting collaboration, marking a pivotal moment for JustBet as it reinvigorates its brand identity.
Kamal Powell, Head of Marketing at Supreme Ventures Limited, highlighted the strategic decision behind this partnership.
“We recently refreshed the JustBet brand and have just launched our new advertising campaign to reflect the energy of the brand. It was important to us to align with a diverse group of athletes who all represent excellence in sports to be part of the JustBet story," Powell remarked.
“The inclusion of accomplished athletes like Andre, Stacy Ann and Fraser in our new TVC underscores our commitment to showcasing the multifaceted nature of athleticism and entertainment while celebrating Jamaican sporting excellence. We are proud to partner with these amazing Jamaican athletes as we continue to elevate the JustBet brand.”
He emphasized the significance of each ambassador to JustBet's mission, noting, "Andre Blake, revered as the backbone of Jamaica's football team, joins as a symbol of leadership and resilience. Stacy Ann Williams, a formidable presence on the track, epitomizes the physical and mental fortitude it takes to be among the best in sports. Fraser McConnell, known for his fearless approach to motorsports, perfectly embodies the thrill and excitement that define JustBet's ethos. We are truly thrilled to welcome them aboard," Powell said.
In addition to their roles in the new TV campaign, these athletes will also contribute to broader community initiatives. Blake expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying, "Supreme Ventures has long been a supporter of sports in Jamaica, including football. I'm excited to not only be part of this new ad campaign but also to support the Andre Blake Foundation."
Through this partnership, JustBet aims to inspire fans across Jamaica to embrace the excitement of sports and entertainment while fostering unity and camaraderie nationwide. As the Olympic Games draw near, the collaboration with Andre Blake, Stacy-Ann Williams, and Fraser McConnell underscores JustBet's commitment to celebrating Jamaican sporting excellence and enhancing its brand presence in the local community.
A blessing: “Cousin” Asher-Smith thrilled to finally compete in front of Jamaican crowd
Jamaican track & field fans have earned a reputation as some of the most passionate and supportive people you will ever come across and, for British sprint superstar Dina Asher-Smith, seeing it up close and personal at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational on May 11 was a riveting experience.
Asher-Smith, a proud member of the Jamaican diaspora herself through her father Winston, ran her second-fastest time of the young season, 22.59, to take top spot in the Women’s 200m at the inaugural edition of the meet held at the National Stadium in Kingston.
The 28-year-old, in a post-race interview, said that, regardless of the result, she felt “blessed” to finally compete in Jamaica.
“It’s something that I’ve wanted to do forever and ever. I am a part of the Jamaican diaspora around the world,” she said before pointing out that her parents flew in from London to see her compete.
“I’m just so proud to have come here and, however today would’ve gone, it’s just a blessing to come here and race in Jamaica,” she added.
The 2019 World 200m champion, in another interview after her race with The Inside Lane, expounded on her experience competing in Jamaica.
“I’m just so blessed to be in this country and blessed that they support me on that level,” she said.
“I don’t think I can quite articulate what it means to come to another country and they want you to do well and they’re so happy that you’re here. I think, as an athlete, we all want the medals, we all want the titles, we all want the records but at the same time, it means a lot that people want to see you do well,” she added.
The British record holder in both the 100m and 200m said the support from fans even extended to off the track, mentioning that Jamaican guests at the hotel she stayed at often referred to her as “cousin” based on her Jamaican heritage.
“It’s been amazing. I’ve always known that the Jamaican fans are so supportive but being here and seeing it up close like when you’re in the hotel and people also staying there are like ‘cousin, cousin!’ It means so much because when you’ve got your actual roots celebrating you and they like you for who you are, I can’t even describe the feeling. It’s so amazing.”
Felt good: Jackson pleased with execution after 200m season opener in Rabat
Two-time World 200m champion Shericka Jackson was pleased with her execution after finally kicking off her season in the half-lap event at the Rabat Diamond League on Sunday.
Jackson produced 22.82 to win ahead of Ivorian Maboundou Kone (22.96) and France’s Helene Parisot (23.02) in conditions she described as not ideal for fast sprinting.
“Felt good. I think I did pretty well tonight. Out here is a bit cold and windy but, nevertheless, I’m healthy and that’s good,” Jackson said in a post-race interview.
In addition to the weather, Jackson commented on the lack of fans in the stadium to give the athletes a boost, stating that it paled in comparison to last year’s edition of the meet.
“I was like ‘Oh My God!’ It’s one thing when out there is windy and cold and you don’t have much spectators to give you the boost and I think tonight wasn’t as good as last year where reception is concerned,” she said.
With it being her first 200m of the season, “execution” was Jackson’s response when asked what the focus of the race was.
“It’s my second race and first 200m of the season. I did not know what to expect. Coach and I were discussing a few things and I think we did pretty good tonight,” she said.
Jackson then said that she has a few more races scheduled before competing at Jamaica’s National Championships from June 27-30 at the National Stadium in Kingston.
“I have a few more races before trials. It’s a bit of a late start to the season but we have a few races to go so it’s just building from there. We’ll definitely peak at the right time,” she said.
Jackson will be looking to replicate her performance at last year’s national championships where she took the sprint double with times of 10.65, a personal best, and 21.71.
She also won the sprint double in 2022 with times of 10.77 and 21.55.
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