JOA President Christopher Samuda flanked by the honourees Veronica Campbell-Brown at Donald Quarrie in New York on Saturday night. Mr Samuda was guest speaker at the gala hosted by Comets Club International.
Leonard McKenzie
Jamaican track and field icons, Olympians Veronica Campbell-Brown and Donald Quarrie were honoured by Comets Club International, formerly the Montego Bay Comets Club at a gala in New York on Saturday, May 28.
At the lavish event held at the Antun’s Banquet Hall in Queens Village, New York, both former athletes received Lifetime Achievement Awards for their respective contributions to the sport of athletics and their enduring legacies are two of the island's greatest ever.
Campbell-Brown, who retired in 2021 and who celebrated her 40th birthday on May 15, is the most decorated female athlete from Jamaica winning eight Olympic medals including three gold. She won two of those gold medals over 200m in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, respectively.
She also won 11 World Championships medals including three gold medals – the 100m in Osaka, Japan in 2007, 200m in Daegu, South Korea in 2011 and a 4x100m relay gold in 2015.
“Thanks to the Comets Club International for honouring me alongside the legendary sprints athlete Mr Donald Quarrie with the Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding service to athletics. I am humbled by the recognition,” said Campbell-Brown, who is pregnant with her second child with her husband, Omar.
Quarrie, 71, won 200m gold and 100m silver at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 as well as a bronze in the 200m in Moscow in 1980. He is a six-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist winning the sprint double in 1970 and 1974 and the 100m in 1978.
On retirement from the sport, he served as an administrator with the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) for many years and was a member of Jamaica's delegation to global championships.
Like Campbell-Brown, Quarrie was moved by the occasion during which the gathering watched in delight a four-minute video of highlights of some of his races from the Montreal Olympics, Pan Am and Commonwealth Games was shown to the gathering.
Founder and executive director of the Montego Bay Comets and Comets International Aubrey Campbell said the event went according to plan with great support from the Diaspora and the honourees themselves were very gracious in the acceptance speeches.
“Donald, of course, pointed out that they are seen on television and in stadiums, but over dinner and in conversation, being honoured made him feel appreciated,” Campbell disclosed.
Campbell, a 3000m bronze medallist at the ISSA Boys Championships in 1977, said Campbell-Brown noted in her acceptance speech that you should not let failure prevent you from achieving success and that despite humble beginnings you can reach for the stars.
Also at the gala, former Edwin Allen athlete Jodi-Ann Dixon, now a student at Hinds Junior College in Mississippi was the first recipient of the organisation’s Rising Star Award.
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Dalilah Muhammad headlines additions to star-studded line up for Jamaica Athletics Invitational
The excitement is building for the upcoming Jamaica Athletics Invitational, set to take place on May 11 at the National Stadium in Kingston, as 2016 Olympic 400m hurdles champion Dalilah Muhammad joins the list of confirmed international stars for the event. Muhammad, a former world record holder and two-time world champion, brings her stellar track record to Kingston following her silver medal performance at the Tokyo Games.
Alongside Muhammad, a host of emerging Jamaican talents will also grace the track, including standout sprinters Alana Reid, Briana Williams, Bouwahjgie Nkrumie, and Sandrey Davison.
Reid has been training alongside World 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson in Florida and will be looking to make an early statement on her form leading into the national championships in June.
Williams, under the mentorship of distinguished coach John Smith in California, is an Olympic sprint relay gold medalist and a two-time World Championship silver medallist who is eager for a return to form.
Nkrumie, who last year became the first Jamaican schoolboy to break the 10-second barrier, and Davison, both formidable sprinters in their own right, add depth to sprint line up with Davison currently holding the title of fastest Jamaican over 100m this year.
Marvin Anderson, Athletes' Liaison for the Jamaica Athletics Invitational, expressed his enthusiasm for the calibre of athletes set to compete. "We are pleased with the confirmed list to date and excited about the level of competition the athletes and fans should experience," he remarked.
Anticipation is high for a thrilling series of events both on the track and in the field.
Tickets for the May 11 event are already available online, with ticket locations opening on May 4. Grandstand tickets are priced at $3,000, while bleacher seating is free of charge. The meet is scheduled to run from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm, followed by an after-party to celebrate an evening of world-class athletics.
The Jamaica Athletics Invitational promises to deliver top-notch competition and showcase the immense talent within the track and field community. With international stars like Dalilah Muhammad and rising Jamaican sensations like Alana Reid and Briana Williams, fans can expect an unforgettable evening of athletic prowess at the National Stadium in Kingston.
Jamaica’s girls dominate field events on opening day at Penn Relays: Bahamas thrower wins javelin event
Caribbean athletes showcased their prowess in the field on the opening day of the 128th edition of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field in Philadelphia on Thursday. Chief among them were the Jamaicans who enjoyed podium places in the high jump and triple jump events with the Bahamas taking gold in the javelin.
Shaniqua Williams and Danielle Noble, both of Wolmer’s Girls, secured a 1-2 finish in the keenly contested high school girls high jump. Williams’ winning mark of 1.73m was also cleared by Noble and Alysa Carrigan.
However, she won on the basis of a cleaner record during the rounds.
Williams said it was cold and her muscles were lazy but she knew what she had to do to win.
“Despite that I came out here and did what I had to do which was focus on my technique,” she said. “The weather was very cold and I am not used to this kind of weather so I had to take a long time to warm up.”
The Jamaicans were not alone in their dominance as Taysha Stubbs who attends Queens College in the Bahamas showcased her incredible skill and strength in winning the high school girls javelin with an outstanding throw of 47.17m.
Stubbs was several metres better than her main rivals in Sophia Scott of Omaha Burke, who took second place with a throw of 44.79m. In a close third place was Eliana Schneider who produced a best mark of 44.78m.
Jamaicans Marla-Kay Lampart and Kimeka Smith were second and third, respectively in the high school girls shot put that was won by Jessica Oji of Livingston with an impressive throw of 14.01m.
Lampart of Claredon College threw 13.64m for second place while Smith mustered a throw of 13.46m for third place.
Jamaica’s girls won the top four places in the high school girls triple jump competition.
Jade-Ann Dawkins of St Jago finished atop the podium with a distance of 13.01m. Jadea Robinson of Immaculate Conception was in second position with her jump of 12.70m just ahead of Celine Riddle of Holmwood Technical (12.69m).
Richelle Stanley of St Elizabeth Technical (12.55m) was fourth.
Nahjahda Seymoure of Excelsior High threw an impressive 48.08m to finish in second position in the high school girls discus competition that was won by Layla Giordano of NV Old Tappan who hurled the implement out to a winning mark of 51.17m.
Able Mills of St Catherine High threw 48.01m for third place.
Mills’ teammate Rohanna Sudlow jumped 5.83m to finish in third place in the high school girls long jump.
Jaydon Hibbert excited to make his professional debut at USATF Bermuda Grand Prix on Sunday
Jamaica's rising triple jump sensation Jaydon Hibbert is set for his professional debut at the USATF Bermuda Grand Prix this Sunday.
From holding both the indoor and outdoor NCAA records to becoming the first Jamaican and the youngest athlete to win the coveted Bowerman Award, Hibbert's journey has been an exciting display of exceptional talent in the jumps. He eagerly awaits the Bermuda Grand Prix this Sunday,
"Finally, I'll be opening my season. I'm grateful and happy that I am ready to compete and I'm excited to see where I am in my preparations. I've never visited Bermuda before, but I expect it to be fun. I've heard it's an electrifying stadium, which jumpers need, so I look forward to the crowd support," he exclaimed.
The 19-year-old won the gold medal at the 2022 World U20 championships and is the holder of the U20 indoor and outdoor triple jump world records at 17.54m and 17.87m, respectively. He went undefeated during his freshman year at the University of Arkansas in 2023 before transitioning to the professional ranks in January.
"Since I started doing the sport, I've been looking forward to competing professionally. I can't wait to get out there and make my coach and family proud. I'm praying for a great season!" he exclaimed hardly able to contain his excitement.
The Bermuda Grand Prix, also known as the "Prelude to Paris", will start at 3 pm Jamaica time at the Flora Duffy Stadium. Action is live on Peacock via NBC Sports.
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