Lacarthea Cooper finished third in the 400m at the Bahamian National Championships but was left off the team for the Olympic Games.
The Tribune
President of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, Drumeco Archer, has hit out at the Bahamas Olympic Committee’s decision to deny Lacarthea Cooper a chance to compete at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
Cooper, a student at New Mexico Junior College, was originally a part of the BAAA’s recommended list of athletes to go to Paris, according to Archer, but was removed by the BOC in favor of Shania Adderley.
The 20-year-old Cooper placed third in the 400m final at the Bahamian National Championships in Nassau on June 28 while Adderley, 16, finished fifth.
The rationale given by BOC President, Romell Knowles, at the team’s naming ceremony on Wednesday was that Adderley was a member of the country’s Mixed 4x400m relay team that qualified for the Olympics through the IAAF World Relays in May.
For Cooper, this is her second time being denied an opportunity to compete on the sport’s highest stage.
She finished third in the 200m at the Bahamian Championships back in 2021 but missed out on an Olympic berth due to COVID-19.
“Lacarthea, who is no stranger to our sport and who placed third at in the nationals, has demonstrated consistent excellence and was previously denied the opportunity to compete in the 2021 Olympics due to Covid-19,” Archer said in a statement on Thursday.
“Denying her a second opportunity, undeservedly, would be unfair and contrary to our selection principles. Despite our efforts to engage in discussions with the BOC and to seek common ground, decisions were made without our full agreement,” he added.
Cooper has since been invited to travel with the team but will not compete.
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.
Jamaican high jumper Lamara Distin signs professional contract with Puma
Commonwealth Games champion and World Championships finalist Lamara Distin has taken a significant step in her career by signing a professional deal with German sporting goods giant Puma.
Distin, who will represent Jamaica at the Paris Olympics next month, announced the exciting news on Thursday via social media.
"Excited to announce that I’m stepping into the next chapter of my career with @pumarunning,” she posted in her Instagram account.
“Huge shoutout to my amazing management group @fortetrackandfield for their unwavering support and guidance. Excited for the future and opportunities ahead."
Distin's impressive track record includes being a three-time NCAA champion while at Texas A&M University. She is currently ranked third in the world after setting a new Jamaican national indoor record with a jump of 2.00m earlier this season, making her the first Jamaican woman to clear that height. Distin also boasts an outdoor best of 1.97m.
Olympic dream in jeopardy, attorneys to file urgent appeal for hammer thrower Nayoka Clunis
Attorneys representing Jamaica’s hammer thrower Nayoka Clunis are set to file an urgent appeal before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ad hoc committee if the uncertainty surrounding her participation in the 2024 Olympic Games remains unresolved by 5 pm today, Wednesday, July 16.
Despite achieving a National Record of 71.83 metres in May, ranking her in the top 32 in the world this year, Clunis's dream of competing on the world’s biggest stage is now hanging in the balance due to a blunder from the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA).
The 28-year-old, who placed second at the JAAA National Senior Championships, initially believed she was on her way to the Olympics. However, her excitement turned to dismay when she learned that her name was omitted from the JAAA’s official list submitted to World Athletics.
“Following the Jamaican Olympic Trials, I was elated to receive notification of my official selection to Team Jamaica. Unfortunately, I have since found myself in a difficult position. Due to an omission made by the Jamaican Athletics Administration Association, my name was not officially submitted to World Athletics. As such, I do not have a position in the Olympic Games,” Clunis shared in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
However, after no word forthcoming from the JAAA, attorneys representing the frustrated athlete - Dr. Emir Crowne and local attorney Sayeed Bernard – have written to the JAAA informing of their intended action.
"Mr. Bernard and I act for Ms. Nayoka Clunis, an athlete who should be well-known to you by now. As is also common ground, the JAAA’s admitted negligence (gross negligence, in some jurisdictions) has put Ms. Clunis’ Olympic dreams in jeopardy. In the absence of any updates as to Ms. Clunis’ situation by 5 p.m. today, we have been instructed to file an emergency appeal to the CAS’s ad hoc division."
The letter continued, "Indeed, we are hopeful that an appeal to the CAS is not necessary, but the JAAA’s negligence and radio silence since July 7th has left our client with few options, not to mention the irreparable damage this has done to the mental and emotional well-being. Athletes deserve better."
While Clunis awaits a resolution, her plight underscores the importance of strong administrative leadership, as the oversight by the JAAA could potentially rob an athlete who has shown remarkable dedication in her sport of the opportunity to achieve her dream on the global stage.
KFC inks brand deal with Jaydon Hibbert ahead of Paris Olympics
Quick-service restaurant giant, KFC Jamaica has inked a brand partnership with one of Jamaica’s most dynamic and exciting young athletes - triple jump sensation Jaydon Hibbert. The partnership with the world under-20 record holder begins on the eve of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Hibbert will represent Jamaica on the world stage.
Excited for the partnership and the Olympic games ahead, Hibbert celebrated the support from KFC, noting, “I’m really excited to be partnering with KFC for this Olympic season. It is an honour to be named the first track and field brand ambassador for KFC. Whenever I land in Jamaica, KFC is always my first stop, so this opportunity to represent the brand is truly special to me. I'm excited to see what the future holds. Without question, it's a big deal!”
Andrei Roper, Marketing Manager at Restaurants of Jamaica also expressed his elation at the deal with the strong Olympic-medal prospect.
“KFC is a long-time supporter of Jamaican sports and athletes. We believe in investing in our nation’s talented youth, and so we are extremely excited to partner with one of Jamaica’s brightest young sporting talents. We are pleased to welcome Jaydon to the KFC family, and we are delighted to be a part of his journey,” Roper shared.
In addition to being the current world under-20 record holder in the triple jump, Hibbert will now lead Jamaica’s medal hopes in the event at the Paris Olympics. Hibbert is also set to represent Jamaica at the World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru later in August.
Roper continued, “Jaydon’s attitude and dedication towards track and field has been commendable. He aligns perfectly with everything we hold dear at KFC – leadership, discipline, commitment, dedication, community, nation-building, and all-around Jamaican excellence. He is a great role model for young athletes. We look forward to what will undoubtedly be a great partnership and are confident he will represent us, both KFC and Jamaica, well at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
Hibbert will appear in upcoming KFC brand and retail marketing campaigns as he continues to excel on and off the field and help lay the foundation for the next generation of talented Jamaican athletes.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
