Shericka Jackson to bounce back from fifth-placed finish in Oslo on Thursday.
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After a sub-par showing on last, reigning World 200m champion Shericka Jackson will definitely be hoping to make the Stockholm Diamond League meet a memorable one on Sunday.
The 29 year-old Jamaican sprinter has gone faster than anyone over 200m except 1988 Olympic champion Florence Griffith Joyner.
However, a fifth place at the Oslo Diamond League on Thursday raised questions about Jackson’s fitness ahead of this Summer’s Paris Olympic Games. Still, Jackson is as determined as athletes come and she will no doubt look to assuage concerns with a speedy time in Stockholm.
On the other hand, American Brittany Brown will look to rattle her confidence once more. Brown scored an upset victory with a time of 22.32 seconds in Oslo. The result has vaulted the American sprinter into the Olympic selection conversation ahead of their Olympic Team Trials in late June.
Brown is slated to run both the 100m and 200m in Stockholm. Gambia’s Gina Bass, Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith and Jamaica’s Natasha Morrison will also line up in the 100m, while Jackson and fellow Americans Anavia Battle and Jenna Prandini will be Brown’s biggest rivals in the 200m.
Jamaica’s Ryiem Forde Forde will have his hands full in the men’s 100m, as he faces Japanese Hakim Sani Brown, the runner-up in Oslo, Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon, and American Kyree King.
Rushell Clayton's rich vein of form to be tested by Femke Bol.
Another highly anticipated women’s track event is the 400m hurdles, where in-form Jamaican Rushell Clayton will lock horns with Dutch world champion Femke Bol, who will make her season debut in the event at Stockholm’s Olympic stadium.
Clayton has grown from strength to strength since copping bronze at last year’s World Championships. She secured victories in Oslo on Thursday, and prior to that, won in Rabat, as well as at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational Meet, where she clocked a season’s best 53.72s. She will again be joined by compatriots Andrenette Knight and Janieve Russell, who were a part of the Jamaican sweep of the podium at the in Oslo, with World champion Bol now joining the party.
World Championships silver medallist Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands is expected to be one of the toughest rivals for Alison Dos Santos of Brazil in the men’s 400m hurdles.
But McMaster will have much to do, as Dos Santos has been holding superb form and is undefeated in the event. Dos Santos has won both of his races on the Diamond League circuit this year in impressive times, the most recent being a season’s best 46.63s-clocking in Oslo.
Meanwhile, the women’s triple jump seems headed to be a Caribbean affair with world indoor champion Thea Lafond of Dominica, two-time World Championships silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts of Jamaica, and world indoor silver medallist, Leyanis Perez Hernandez of Cuba again set to battle for the podium spots. Another Jamaican Kimberley Williams will be aiming to improve on her recent performances.
Elsewhere in the field, Fedrick Dacres and Danniel Thomas-Dodd will also be hoping to improve their form in the men’s discus and women’s shot put respectively.
Ashoka Road to be renamed Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Drive in honour of sprint legend
Ashoka Road in Waterhouse, Kingston, is set to be renamed Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Drive in recognition of the track and field legend's incredible contributions to athletics and her community. The Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) approved the renaming during its council meeting on Tuesday, October 8, held at the Marcus Garvey Council Chamber in downtown Kingston.
The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) reported that Councillor Byron Clarke, who represents the Waterhouse Division, brought the resolution to the council, emphasizing that Fraser-Pryce’s achievements, both on and off the track, have had a transformative impact not only on Jamaica but also on the world stage.
Born and raised on Ashoka Road, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has become one of the most decorated athletes in history, boasting 10 World Championship titles and eight Olympic medals. She remains the only sprinter, male or female, to win five world titles in the 100 metres (2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2022), a testament to her remarkable longevity and dominance in the sport.
Councillor Clarke praised Fraser-Pryce as an exemplary role model, noting her commitment to uplifting the Waterhouse community and her broader contributions through her charitable initiatives, including the Pocket Rocket Foundation. The foundation provides scholarships and grants to young athletes, helping to shape the next generation of Jamaican talent.
"Shelly-Ann is more than deserving of this honour," Councillor Clarke stated. "Her determination, commitment, resilience, and willingness to serve her country and community have made her a beacon of hope. Her true value transcends her accomplishments on the track, as she embodies the spirit of hard work, purpose, and passion for her country."
Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Andrew Swaby, echoed these sentiments and highlighted that further celebrations of Fraser-Pryce’s legacy are in the works. "Plans are under way to celebrate her incredible achievements," Mayor Swaby shared. He added that discussions have already begun with members of the Civic Committee, her alma mater Wolmer's Girls' School, and representatives from the Pocket Rocket Foundation.
The renaming of Ashoka Road as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Drive not only celebrates her record-breaking career but also honors her as a symbol of pride for Waterhouse and Jamaica. The new street name will serve as a constant reminder of what can be achieved through perseverance, resilience, and a commitment to excellence.
This recognition is expected to inspire future generations, particularly young athletes, as Fraser-Pryce continues to uplift her community and inspire her country with her tireless efforts both on and off the track.
Yohan Blake honoured with Keys to the Region as he launches Butcher's Barrel Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale
World-renowned Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake, the 2011 World 100m champion and double Olympic silver medalist, was awarded the prestigious Key to the Region on Wednesday, October 8, during the grand opening of his new restaurant, Butcher's Barrel, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Despite the looming threat of Hurricane Milton barreling toward the state, the event was a celebratory moment for Blake, who was honoured by city officials and members of South Florida’s Caribbean community for his outstanding contributions to both athletics and entrepreneurship.
The recognition ceremony, led by Tamarac Commissioner Marlon D. Bolton, saw the 34-year-old Blake receive the Keys to the Region, joining an esteemed list of previous honourees, including dancehall artist Spice, TV personality Miss Kitty, and reggae artist Ky-Mani Marley. Vice Mayor Alexandra Davis of Miramar and other local officials from the Caribbean diaspora were present to celebrate Blake’s new venture and his achievements as an athlete.
In an emotional speech, Blake expressed his deep gratitude, reflecting on his journey as one of the fastest men in history over the 100m and 200m distances.
"This brings tears to my eyes to recognize this moment. I have worked 20-odd years tirelessly, creating so much history around the world being one of the fastest men in the 100 and 200 plus the 4x100m, it is not an easy feat," Blake said. "To do something like this, just a simple award to recognize what we have been doing—I just want to thank you for this. It means a lot to me, from the bottom of my heart."
Blake’s illustrious career includes winning gold at the 2011 World Athletics Championships in the 100m, where he became the youngest 100m world champion ever, and earning silver medals in the 100m and 200m at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, behind the legendary Usain Bolt. His personal bests of 9.75 seconds in the 100m and 19.44 seconds in the 200m remain the fastest times ever recorded to place second in Olympic history.
(Alexandra Davis Instagram)
Miramar Vice Mayor Alexandra Davis and Jamaican Olympian Yohan Blake at the launch of his Butcher's Barrel restaurant in Ft Lauderdale on Tuesday.
The Key to the Region initiative, developed in collaboration with Caribbean elected officials, honours individuals who have made significant contributions to the community through excellence in their respective fields. Blake, who has continuously supported charitable initiatives, particularly in Jamaica, now adds the entrepreneurial launch of Butcher’s Barrel to his list of achievements.
The Butcher’s Barrel restaurant in Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, is Blake’s latest venture, as he looks to expand his brand beyond the track. The launch attracted local leaders, including Lauderhill Commissioner Denise D. Grant, Sunrise Commissioner Mark Douglas, and Vice Mayor Alexandra Davis, who shared her pride in the Jamaican sprinter on social media.
"At the Butcher’s Barrel in Oakland Park as Yohan Blake opened his restaurant and received the Keys to the Region from local elected Caribbean officials," Davis wrote on Instagram. "Yohan is a Jamaican sprinter who won gold at the 2011 World Championships as the youngest 100m world champion ever, and silver in the 2012 Olympic Games. We wish him well in his new endeavor!"
As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, Blake's success and recognition offer a bright moment of celebration and hope amid the challenging circumstances. His determination on and off the track continues to inspire many, and the opening of his restaurant marks a new chapter in his multifaceted career.
Blake’s legacy as a sprinter is solidified, but with the Butcher's Barrel, he is proving that his ambitions go far beyond athletics, bringing his passion and dedication to new ventures in the business world.
World U20 100m Champion Alana Reid named brand ambassador for Burger King Jamaica
World U20 100m Champion Alana Reid has secured a major off-track deal, becoming the latest brand ambassador for Burger King Jamaica. The deal, initially set for one year but with the potential for extension until 2028, sees Reid joining the fast-food giant in a partnership that includes public appearances and involvement in sports development initiatives.
Reid made her first official appearance as brand ambassador on Tuesday at the launch of the 2024 Burger King 5K and Relay at Jamaica College in Kingston. The event, slated for November 10, will see Reid actively engaging participants, including leading them through warm-up exercises before the race.
The young sprinter’s achievements on the global stage have made her a standout figure in Jamaican athletics. First, she was part of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team that finished fifth at the Paris Olympic Games in August, and following that, she delivered a stellar performance at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima, Peru. Reid claimed two gold medals—first with an impressive 11.17-second finish in the 100m, leading a Caribbean 1-2-3 sweep alongside Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands and Kishawna Niles of Barbados. She later anchored Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team to another gold, cementing her place as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from the region.
This partnership with Burger King not only highlights her rising star status but also represents a commitment from both Reid and the brand to inspire and nurture the next generation of Jamaican athletes. Reid’s involvement in events like the Burger King 5K and her upcoming clinics will provide valuable exposure and guidance to aspiring young sprinters, further solidifying her influence both on and off the track.
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