Members of the Bellefield High School team.
The just concluded 2024 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships (Champs) were a stage for triumph and glory but behind every victory on the field, there lay a tale of dedication, support, and the belief in the potential of young athletes.
At the forefront of this narrative stood the 'Future Champions' initiative, a collaborative effort between GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) and Western Union (WU), aimed at nurturing talent, providing equal opportunities, and promoting youth development through sports. With a generous donation of JMD$2.5 million spread across 14 schools—one per parish—'Future Champions' set the stage for greatness.
Among the stars of this initiative was the Sydney Pagon STEM Academy from St. Elizabeth. Their remarkable improvement over the previous year's performance was a testament to the impact of the initiative. With both their male and female teams increasing their points tally, Sydney Pagon STEM Academy was not just a school but a beacon of hope for young athletes. Luke Plummer's historic bronze medal in the Boys Class 3 800m marked a milestone for the school, igniting a flame of inspiration that would burn bright for years to come.
Not far behind was Herbert Morrison High from St. James, whose athletes displayed sheer determination and skill. Finishing 11th in the competition with 28 points, an improvement over the previous year, Herbert Morrison High showcased their prowess on the field. Santino Distin and Tavaine Stewart's bronze medals in the Boys Class 1 High Jump and Boys Class 2 100m respectively were a testament to their hard work and dedication.
Bellefield High from Manchester added to the tapestry of success with Rhodonna Prince's bronze medal in the girls Class 2 1500m. Their tally of 18 points spoke volumes about their talent and determination.
But perhaps the true essence of 'Future Champions' shone through the inspiring story of Rhianna Lewis from Rhodes Hall High. Despite facing adversity, Rhianna's courage to finish the 400m hurdles after a fall embodied the spirit of perseverance and determination that the initiative aimed to foster.
Grace Burnett, CEO of the GraceKennedy Financial Group and President and CEO of GKMS, beamed with pride as she reflected on the achievements of these young athletes. "The success of our 'Future Champions' at Champs 2024 is a testament to what can be achieved when we invest in our youth," she exclaimed. "These remarkable young athletes have shown that with the right support and opportunities, they can compete at the highest levels and excel."
The 'Future Champions' initiative not only enhanced the schools' athletic facilities and resources but also instilled a sense of pride and achievement among their students.
Not so fast: Haughton says Thompson-Herah in Florida for treatment on Achilles; not joining Tumbleweed Track Club
Earlier on Saturday, Sportsmax.tv published a story based on the words of three-time Olympic medallist, Dr. Gregory Haughton, suggesting that Elaine Thompson-Herah was training with the Tumbleweed Track Club in Jacksonville, Florida under the supervision of Rana Reider.
He mentioned the potential move in a recent video, which has since been deleted, on his YouTube channel Let’s Talk-With Dr. Greg.
Now, Haughton has released a statement on his Facebook page clarifying that the five-time Olympic champion has, in fact, not been training with the club but is, instead, in Florida getting treatment for the Achilles injury that hampered her 2024 season.
“On Thursday I posted a video entitled Elaine Thompson Herah has found a new home, which in my mind was very good news. The day before I dropped the video, I received a call stating that Elaine was in Florida getting treatment and she was also a part of a particular training camp, I then made some calls to confirm the first call I got, and it was confirmed multiple times,” Haughton said in the statement.
It continued: “I even asked two of the sources how sure are you of the info and both said 90% sure which in turn I reported as such. 24 hours after dropping the video, I got a call from someone on Elaine's team, where we had a very intense conversation in the first 20-25 minutes which eventually ended up being a very enlightening conversation.
At the end of the day, I respected the fact the call was made, and I also appreciated the fact that they took the time to listen to what I had to say regarding my intentions behind it all. It must be said that the personnel from Elaine's team stated that the video was not completely accurate and adamantly refuted any claims being made about Elaine having an official new camp...
Yes, Elaine is in Florida getting treatment, yes Elaine may have associates that are associated with the camp in question, but let it be heard here as I set the record straight, Elaine has not found a new home plain and simple.”
Elaine Thompson-Herah reportedly training in USA ahead of 2025 season
Five-time Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah is reportedly gearing up to reignite her career in a new training environment.
After an Achilles injury dashed her hopes of defending her Olympic titles in Paris, the Jamaican sprint queen has officially embarked on the next chapter of her illustrious career as she eyes a remarkable return to form in the 2025 World Championship season.
According to three-time Olympic medallist, Dr. Gregory Haughton, Thompson-Herah may be preparing for the 2025 season under the tutelage of Rana Reider at the Tumbleweed Track Club in Jacksonville, Florida.
“News just reached me that Elaine Thompson-Herah is currently in Jacksonville preparing for the World Championship season,” Haughton said recently on his Let’s Talk-With Dr. Greg YouTube channel.
“This is about 90% certainty that she is training under the supervision of coach Rana Reider at the Tumbleweed Track Club,” he added.
Over the past two years, she has cycled through several trainers, including her most recent stint with coach Reynaldo Walcott, which ended less than a year after it began.
The decision to switch training camps also underscores the turbulent journey Thompson-Herah has faced since leaving the MVP Track Club, where she enjoyed her most successful years.
After struggling with injuries and inconsistent performances, her recovery journey began to show promise under coach Shanikie Osbourne, only for contractual disagreements to derail their partnership.
Despite these hurdles, the 31-year-old managed to deliver some strong performances in 2023, including a season-best time of 10.79 seconds and a third-place finish at the Diamond League season finale.
If this is indeed her next move, hopefully it leads to her re-discovering the form that put her within five hundredths of a second of being known as the fastest woman to ever walk this earth.
Drake Stadium to host final Grand Slam Track event in June 2025
Grand Slam Track™, the new global home of professional track competition, launched earlier this year by four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, today announced that Drake Stadium will be the host venue for the fourth and final Slam of the 2025 season. Los Angeles was announced last June as the home Grand Slam Track™ and a host city, with the other 2025 Slams taking place in Kingston, Jamaica, Miami, and Philadelphia. Today’s announcement confirms the date and venue for the final Slam of 2025, and completes the calendar for Grand Slam Track™’s first season.
The Los Angeles Slam will be held at UCLA’s Drake Stadium on June 27th, 28th, and 29th, where the world’s fastest racers will compete. Tickets for all four Slams will go on sale on Friday, December 6th, at 1pm Eastern/10am Pacific. For more information, please visit https://grandslamtrack.com/events
The 2025 Grand Slam Track™ season calendar is now fully announced. The inaugural Slam will be the Kingston Slam, which will take place at National Stadium, in Independence Park, Kingston, Jamaica, April 4–6th, 2025. The Miami Slam will take place at Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar, Florida, May 2–4th, 2025. The Philadelphia Slam will take place at Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, May 30–June 1st, 2025. Today’s announcement of the Los Angeles Slam taking place at UCLA’s Drake Stadium, June 27–29th 2025, caps this season’s venue and host reveal week.
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