Shafiqua Maloney has her sights set on the Olympic 800m final this summer.
Vincentian 800m record holder Shafiqua Maloney says she’s right were she needs to be ahead of the Olympics in Paris this summer.
The 25-year-old former Arkansas Razorback most recently competed at the Edwin Moses Legends Meet at Morehouse College in Atlanta on May 31 where she won the women’s 800m in 1:59.31, her fastest outdoor time of the season.
“I think I’m where I need to be,” Maloney said in an interview with Trackalerts after her race.
“Not happy with it but it could’ve been worse,” she said about her time.
“I finished healthy and ran faster than I did two weeks ago so I’m taking the positives and moving on,” she added.
This summer will be Maloney’s second experience at the Olympic Games. She failed to advance from the heats at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
She hopes to go two-rounds further in Paris.
“The goal is always Paris so when I get there I’ll take it one round at a time. Hopefully, I make the final. That’s the plan so we’ll see what happens,” she said adding that once she executes properly, anything is possible.
“I think everybody that goes to the Olympics wants a medal, that’s one of the things on my mind. The most important thing is to focus on practice and competition. When you focus on executing your races everything else will fall in place,” she added.
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.
Noah Lyles sprints to victory at USA National Championships, secures spot in 2024 Paris Olympics
Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion, secured his place at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a stunning victory in the 100m dash at the USA National Championships on Sunday. Clocking in at a blistering 9.83 seconds (0.4), Lyles dominated the field at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, demonstrating his readiness to chase Olympic gold.
Lyles only previous Olympic medal was a 200m bronze from Tokyo, but he heads to Paris bolstered by his remarkable achievements at the World Championships in Budapest last year, where he won gold in the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay.
Lyles was followed by Kenny Bednarek, primarily known for his prowess in the 200m, who finished with a personal best of 9.87 seconds. The 2022 world champion, Fred Kerley, took third place with a time of 9.88 seconds. Just missing out on the Olympic team, world indoor champion and 2019 world 100m gold medallist Christian Coleman finished fourth, clocking 9.93 seconds.
The day was also marked by an extraordinary performance from 16-year-old Quincy Wilson. In the 400m semi-finals, Wilson shattered his own under-18 world record, lowering it from 44.66 seconds to an impressive 44.59 seconds, demonstrating his prodigious talent and setting the stage for an exciting future in athletics.
In the women’s 400m, Kendall Ellis emerged victorious with a time of 49.46 seconds, followed closely by Aaliyah Butler (49.71) and Alexis Holmes (49.78), both of whom secured their places on the Olympic team.
Sha'Carri Richardson books spot at Paris Olympics with world-leading 10.71 at US trials
In a stunning display of speed and focus, World 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson secured her place at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning the 100m at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday night. With a world-leading time of 10.71 seconds, Richardson dominated the competition, cementing her status as an early favourite for Olympic gold.
Richardson's final at Hayward Field started with an intense stare-down, a marked departure from her exuberant salutes to the crowd in earlier heats. This newfound focus paid off spectacularly, as Richardson blazed down the track to clinch victory and her first Olympic berth.
Joining her on the plane to Paris are training partners Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry, who finished second and third with times of 10.80 and 10.89 seconds, respectively. Jefferson's time was a lifetime best.
This victory marks a significant milestone in Richardson's career, especially after the disappointment of missing the Tokyo Olympics due to a suspension for marijuana use. She acknowledged the struggles she has faced, saying, "Everything I've been through is everything I have been through to be in this moment right now. There's nothing I've been through that hasn't designed me to sit right here in front of you to answer this question."
Richardson's resurgence has been marked by notable achievements, including winning the 100m at the world championships in Budapest last summer with a personal best of 10.65 seconds. She also anchored the US 4x100 relay team to victory.
Richardson's next goal is to qualify for the 200m. She enters the event with the third-fastest qualifying time, behind Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Gabby Thomas and 2024 NCAA champion McKenzie Long. The first-round heats for the women's 200m are scheduled for Thursday.
Before Richardson's electrifying performance, Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion at 100m, ran his preliminary heat in 9.92 seconds, the fastest time in the first round of men's qualifying. Christian Coleman also advanced winning his heat in 9.99 while Fred Kerley ran 10.02 to also advance.
Sada Williams secures Olympic spot with dominant 400m win at Barbados National Championships
Two-time World Championship 400m bronze medallist Sada Williams has booked her place at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a commanding victory at the 2024 Dasani Powerade Barbados National Championships on Saturday night. Competing at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex just outside Bridgetown, Williams, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion, showcased her class by cruising to victory in the 400m with a time of 51.36 seconds.
Williams' performance was head and shoulders above her competitors. She finished more than two seconds ahead of Tiana Bowen, who clocked 53.67 for second place, and Kelia Bentham, who was more than five seconds back, finishing in 57.00 seconds. Despite the largely underwhelming performances across the board, Williams' victory has cemented her as the standout athlete likely to represent Barbados at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer.
In the men's 400m race, Desean Boyce emerged victorious with a time of 46.25 seconds, narrowly beating Rahee Taitt-Best, who finished second in 46.58. Jahlee Armstrong completed the podium, coming in third with a time of 46.85 seconds.
The blue-riband 100m sprints saw thrilling finishes in both the men's and women's categories. Mario Burke triumphed in the men's 100m, clocking 10.38 seconds into a headwind of 1.3m/s, edging out Kuron Griffith who finished a hair's breadth behind at 10.39 seconds. Ajani Ince secured third place with a time of 10.44 seconds.
On the women's side, Tristian Evenlyn claimed the national title by breaking Ashley Marshall's national record of 11.37 seconds, set in 2015, with a remarkable time of 11.30 seconds. Kishawna Niles took the silver medal in 11.51 seconds, while Aniya Nurse finished third in 11.72 seconds.
In the 100m hurdles, Adeyah Brewster became the national women's champion by winning the event in 13.60 seconds. She was followed by Ayanna Morgan, who clocked 13.84 seconds, and Makyla Smith, who finished in 15.99 seconds.
Williams' stellar performance in the 400m has not only earned her a spot in the upcoming Olympics but has also reinforced her status as one of Barbados' premier athletes. As the nation looks ahead to the Paris Games, Williams' achievements will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration and pride.
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