History-making Olympian Deon Hemmings-McCatty to be honoured 50 Days Afire book launch

By Sports Desk November 02, 2022
Deon Hemmings won the 400m hurdles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games becoming the first woman from Jamaica or the Caribbean to win Olympic gold. Deon Hemmings won the 400m hurdles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games becoming the first woman from Jamaica or the Caribbean to win Olympic gold.

Deon Hemmings-McCatty,  the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic gold medal, is to be honoured for her impact on local athletics and inspiration to young athletes, at Thursday’s launch of  50 Days Afire, a book chronicling impactful events in Jamaica’s track and field at GC Foster College in St Catherine.

A documentary 'Finding Foster: The Search for Jamaica’s Lost Sprint Hero' will also be a feature at the launch of the seminal publication by publisher Michael A. Grant and track and field writer, commentator and historian Hubert Lawrence.

I can’t say no,” the history making Olympian said in accepting her invitation to the event, “I will be there.”

The special award was initiated by local gaming brand AnyBet, the title sponsor of the book, film and  event. Grants for research and production were also provided by NCB Capital Markets, Sherwin-Williams, Sports Development Foundation and Tastee Ltd., while other sponsorship was provided by GC Foster College, Supreme Outdoor Advertising, TrackAlerts.com and WISYNCO Ltd.

Fifty Days Afire, is the third collaboration between Grant and Lawrence. It chronicles the 50 most significant performances by Jamaican athletes over 115 years of competition, beginning with GC Foster’s exploits in the United Kingdom in 1908.

In addition to never-before-seen photographs of Foster as an athlete and pictures representing all the featured races, the book addresses issues of class, nationalism and Jamaica’s love of sprinting, while discussing reasons for the growing dominance of the island’s athletes on the world stage. Readers will learn how influential those 50 races have been to the overall development of the sport, even though they do not all feature victories or records.

'Finding Foster' is Grant’s  brainchild. He uncovered important information and photographs of Jamaican pioneering sprinter and coach Gerald Claude “GC” Foster while conducting research for the book.

With a run-time of 30 minutes, the production features analysis by Lawrence and sports broadcaster Kayon Raynor and follows Foster on his quest to compete at the 1908 London Olympics, travelling alone on his own funds.

With the help of British coach Harry Andrews, Foster was able to turn his failed bid at Olympic glory into a spectacular three-month tour of Great Britain in which he competed prodigiously, beating the British champion and other Olympians in several meets.

While there, Foster became a favourite of the British sporting press and often addressed adoring crowds following his races.

In addition to honouring Hemmings, there will also be the unveiling of a portrait of Foster as a young athlete. The authors will also read from as well as sign books on sale at the venue.

 

Related items

  • Philadelphia joins Kingston, Miami and Los Angeles as host cities for inaugural season of Grand Slam Track Philadelphia joins Kingston, Miami and Los Angeles as host cities for inaugural season of Grand Slam Track

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has been announced as the host city for the third Grand Slam Track™ event this season.

    Four-time US Olympic Champion and Grand Slam Track founder and commissioner, Michael Johnson, made the announcement on Thursday that Philadelphia will be the fourth and final host city for its 2025 season, joining Kingston, Jamaica, Miami and Los Angeles.

    The final calendar for the 2025 Grand Slam Track™ season, including the location and date for the Los Angeles Slam, will be released tomorrow.

    “Philly has a reputation for bringing intensity to every event, and that’s exactly what we’re looking for with Grand Slam Track™,” said Johnson.

    “There’s a unique energy in this city, and we’re excited to see how the athletes respond to that. Philadelphia’s sports culture is something else, and it’s going to elevate the competition.”

    Philadelphia’s strong sports identity and devoted fan base make it an ideal location for Grand Slam Track™.

    The Philadelphia Slam will be held at Franklin Field, at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia on May 30th, 31st, and June 1st, where the world’s fastest racers will compete.

    Franklin Field is also famous for being the venue for the annual Penn Relays.

     

  • Jamaica Olympic Association endorses Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series debut in Kingston Jamaica Olympic Association endorses Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series debut in Kingston

    The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has thrown its full support behind the highly anticipated Grand Slam Track series, a pioneering track and field competition created by American Olympic icon Michael Johnson. Kingston’s National Stadium will host the inaugural event from April 4-6, 2025, marking a historic occasion as Jamaica kicks off a global series that merges elite competition with cultural celebration in select cities worldwide.

    In endorsing the Grand Slam Track initiative, JOA President Christopher Samuda highlighted the series’ alignment with the evolving nature of sports as both a business and a cultural experience. “The economy of sport is continually diversifying its product offerings,” Samuda said. “This move merits support, for yesterday’s novelty in sport is becoming today’s norm of business innovation in a global enterprise where changing the game has become a pre-requisite of staying in the game and winning the grand slam.”

    The Grand Slam Track series promises substantial financial rewards for competitors, a prospect that appeals to both athletes and sports financiers. JOA Secretary General/CEO Ryan Foster outlined the benefits, emphasizing that Grand Slam Track supports the JOA’s vision for sustainable athletic growth. “The grand slam track will not only pay dividends for aspirations invested initially in sweat equity and maturing in bonus payments,” Foster said, “which is a qualitative strategy of the JOA, but, more importantly, the meets will provide self-actualising opportunities for athletes and value for money for fans.”

    Beyond the prize money, the JOA sees Grand Slam Track as a platform for continuous, high-level competition, helping athletes prepare for the Olympics by fostering ongoing development through regular, intense matchups. “On the other side of the minted coin of sport, top-ranking athletes will be able to constantly measure performance against character as they compete continually against each other,” Foster explained, adding that it is “in conditioning themselves for the premier event, the Olympic Games,” that athletes will truly benefit from the series.

    Drawing inspiration from other global sports formats like tennis and Formula One, Grand Slam Track aims to create an experience that celebrates the culture of each host city. This aspect particularly resonates with the JOA’s vision of sports as a cultural and economic driver. “The concept is allied to the advocacy of the JOA,” Samuda noted, “as we treat sporting events as experiences in physical culture, fan engagement, cuisine, music, entertainment, and tourism—all of which are drivers in creating a viable sports industry.”

    The JOA’s backing of Grand Slam Track aligns with its commitment to sports innovation, a mission that led the association to launch the “Olympic Destiny” series in 2021. This JOA initiative was designed to prepare Jamaican athletes for the Tokyo Olympics amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Olympic Destiny series offered incentives for athletes and fostered historic performances, including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s national record-setting 10.63s sprint in the 100m. That experience, Samuda pointed out, was “a first in the history of the sport,” underscoring the JOA’s commitment to driving progress and championing local talent on a global stage.

    With the JOA’s endorsement, Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track is poised to deliver a unique blend of high-stakes competition and cultural celebration, solidifying Jamaica’s position as a host for world-class athletic events and creating a new chapter in track and field’s evolution.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • JAAA, ISSA and late journalist Hubert Lawrence among honourees at 2C2W World Awards Gala JAAA, ISSA and late journalist Hubert Lawrence among honourees at 2C2W World Awards Gala

    The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) and the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) received special recognition for their contributions to Jamaican athletics at the annual 2C2W World Awards Gala in New York on Sunday. The USD $150-per-plate event, held to honour achievements across sports, community, and leadership, drew a full crowd, underscoring the high regard for the honourees and the significance of their contributions to sports.

    Other honourees included Louis Vazquez, Wesmore Thomas, Karen N. Wilson-Robinson, Aubrey Campbell, Chenelle Gushman, and Kevin Francis as well as Jeremiah Pope, Charles Weekes and Dian Marie Martinez.  Their work across sports, community service, and leadership aligns with the 2C2W World Awards’ mission to highlight impactful contributions to athletics.

    Representing Jamaica’s national governing body for athletics, JAAA President Garth Gayle was on hand to accept the award. The JAAA has been a central force in nurturing Jamaican athletic talent at all levels, playing a vital role in the country's reputation as a global track and field powerhouse. Under its guidance, many of Jamaica’s finest athletes have flourished on the international stage, with the organization’s commitment to developing young talent widely recognized.

    Keith Wellington, President of ISSA, accepted the award on behalf of ISSA, the body responsible for organizing the renowned Boys and Girls Championships (Champs). Founded in 1910, Champs has grown from a small inter-school competition into one of the premier youth athletic events in the world, helping to shape athletes like Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Elaine Thompson-Herah. ISSA’s dedication to nurturing young talent has established Champs as a critical stepping stone for athletes aiming to compete on the world stage.

    A touching tribute also honoured the late Hubert Lawrence, a respected track and field journalist, historian and author, who passed away on February 23, 2024, at the age of 63. Teddence Bailey, a longtime friend of Lawrence, read a heartfelt citation that captured the essence of Lawrence's impact:

    “Remembering Hubert Lawrence: Renowned Track and Field Analyst, Author, and Broadcaster Passes Away. Hubert Lawrence, born July 15, 1960, unexpectedly passed away on February 23, 2024, sparking widespread shock, disbelief, and sorrow.

    “He seamlessly integrated statistical data, sporting facts, and historical context to bring athletic events to life. He was the legendary hand-time grandmaster, Hubert on point. Hand Electronic... don’t play with Hubie! He coined the word ‘Handtronics.’ Lawrence's distinctive voice and confident commentary style made him a staple in sports broadcasting, covering prominent events like Jamaica's High School Boys and Girls Athletics Championships, CARIFTA Games, World Championships, and the Olympics. His expertise was unparalleled, and he was a trusted figure on Television Jamaica sports coverage. Additionally, Lawrence authored several books, including Power and Glory: Jamaica in World Athletics and Champs 100: A Century of Jamaican High School Athletics. He was distinguished by his integrity, respect, and encouraging demeanor. His passing leaves a significant void in the sports community.”

     

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.