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• “Every time he stepped up, I knocked him down”- Bailey dismisses notion of rivalry with Johnson

  1996 Olympic 100m champion Donovan Bailey has dismissed his track ‘rivalry’ with Michael Johnson and explained how the 150m race between him and the American sprint legend came to be.

  Speaking on ‘The Powells’ YouTube Channel hosted by former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell and his wife Alyshia, the Jamaican-Canadian explained that there was no rivalry between himself and Michael Johnson since every time they raced together, he was always the one winning.

  Bailey, a former world record holder himself, said the first time they clashed in 1994, he beat Michael Johnson.

  At the event, Michael Johnson would only run in the final but Bailey competed in all the rounds and still beat the former 200m and 400m world record holder in the final.

  “Michael and I ran together for the first time in 1994 in Germany and he was trying to step down and I think he was actually doing a couple of rounds. My coach and agent told me that Michael Johnson would be running the 100m final but not the heats or any other race. The people were there to see the fastest guys run and I was like he’s sitting in the stands watching us run. I ran and won my heat and then the finals came and I murdered them,” Bailey said.

  “I’m sitting in the stands, there’s no rivalry then or now…you know. I’m in the 100m and odd list history of the Olympics, I’ve been the only one to break the world record and to not be the fastest man in the world, and Michael said that…I mean, the NBC said that first but Michael bought into the idea and I think to this day. I know that I represent terrible days at his office, every time he stepped up, I mean, I knocked him down,” Bailey added.

  After the 1996 Summer Olympics, American Sportscaster Bob Costas claimed that 200m Gold medalist Johnson was faster than Bailey because Johnson's 200m time (19.32 Seconds) divided by 2 (9.66 Seconds) was shorter than Bailey's 100m time (9.84). 

  This started a debate on whether Johnson or Bailey was the real "World's Fastest Man", which in turn resulted in a 150m race between the two in 1997, in which Bailey won after Johnson allegedly injured his hamstring.

  He says the 150m race came about after discussions while admitting that from it, he made a lot of money.

  Competing before a sold-out stadium at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Bailey explained that he knew he had to win the race to prove everyone wrong and he certainly showed, winning in 14.99 seconds.

  “There was no rivalry…I appreciate that. Running the 100m, Michael is a 10.1 guy at his greatest thing and then again and he is one of the best endurance athletes to ever walk the face of this earth…world record in the 200m and 400m, no chance can he be in the 100m,” he explained.

  “Bob Kersee had said Michael Johnson was the fastest man and I think it was also America, and they were hosting the Olympics. I had just arrived from Texas and broken a world record. They had to build up Michael,” Bailey added.

   

   

• Campion College, Hydel book quarterfinal berths as former champions STGC, Wolmer's Boys, STATHS miss out

  Campion College and Hydel High booked their spots in the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup quarterfinal round after both registered 1-0 wins over St Jago and Wolmer’s Boys in their respective second round group encounters on Friday.

  The win for Campion College saw them finish second in Group One on six points, behind reigning champions Mona High, who blanked many times champion St George’s College 3-0 to finish on maximum nine points.

  St George’s placed third on three points and missed out on the quarterfinal along with St Jago, who ended without point. However, both will have a shot at the Walker Cup knockout title.

  The same is true for perennial semi-finalist St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) and 10-time winners Wolmer's Boys, who were both eliminated from the Manning Cup.

  Wolmer’s Boys’ loss to Hydel saw them finish at the foot of Group Three with a point, while STATHS’ 1-0 win over group winners Kingston College was not enough to see them through. They finished third on four points, as Kingston College and Hydel took the top two spots with six points each.

  Kingston College, Campion College, Mona High and Hydel are joined by Group Four leaders St Catherine (six points) and Group Two leaders Excelsior (six points) in the quarterfinal, with Jamaica College, Tivoli Gardens and Eltham on the hunt for the other two spots.

  Friday’s results

  Campion College 1, St Jago 0

  Mona High 3, St George’s College 0

  Hydel High 1, Wolmer’s Boys 0

  STATHS 1, Kingston College 0

  Saturday’s fixtures

  St Catherine vs Jamaica College

  Calabar vs Charlie Smith

  Excelsior vs Jonathan Grant

  Tivoli Gardens vs Eltham

  *All games are scheduled for 3:00pm

• Lifespan Spring Water throws support behind Pink Run

  There were 1208 new cases of Breast Cancer in Jamaica in 2020, in fact, it is estimated that 1 in 21 women will get the disease. It is the most common form of cancer in the island with an estimated 637 deaths.

  The Annual Pink Run for Breast Cancer Awareness, which took place on October 26^th is designed to break the stigma around the disease and raise awareness while at the same time raising critical funds for organizations dedicated to fighting breast cancer and supporting individuals affected by it.

  Lifespan Spring Water recognizing the crucial nature of the event and the cause, immediately threw its support behind the run as hydration sponsor. “Knowing that cancer of the breast is the most common cancer among Jamaican women, we are taking a positive step to raise awareness and provide tangible support to our students who have taken on this life saving project,” said Nayana Williams CEO Lifespan.

  “Our vision is longevity for the Jamaican people, so doing our part to reduce this scourge is in keeping with who we are”, she added.

  The event kicked off at 6.45am on Saturday at the UWI Guild location where Lifespan erected water stations at the start/end and 2 spots along the way.

  “We are honoured to have Lifespan be a participating sponsor in this event to ensure that our participants remain hydrated and energized throughout the day. With Lifespan being a trusted provider of clean, natural spring water, we believe that your brand aligns perfectly with the health and wellness focus of the event,” commented Michael John External Affairs Chairperson UWI Guild.

  Emerging from the race as Male winners were Matthew Hutchinson (1^st) Rolando Rednan (2^nd) Jaheim Murdock (3^rd).

  In the Female category, the winners were Paula Kay Clarke (1^st) Colleen Scott (2^nd) Tannice Anglin (3^rd).

  The Pink Run forms part of the Pink-Tober series of events.