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• Amir Thompson, son of Olympians Obadele Thompson and Marion Jones, commits to University of Texas

  Amir Thompson, the 16-year-old son of Barbadian Olympian Obadele Thompson and American sprint legend Marion Jones, has committed to the University of Texas for the upcoming academic year. With impressive personal bests of 10.50 seconds in the 100m and 21.12 seconds in the 200m, Amir is already showing signs of following in the footsteps of his illustrious parents.

   Amir’s father, Obadele Thompson, is a renowned sprinter who won the bronze medal in the 100m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Obadele's Olympic success was preceded by a stellar collegiate career at the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP), where he won four individual NCAA sprint titles and set two NCAA records. He also set world records in the 55m and the World Junior 100m. Obadele's achievements earned him induction into several Halls of Fame, including the UTEP Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2007, and the UTEP Athletics and Drake Relays Halls of Fame in 2011. Beyond athletics, Obadele graduated summa cum laude from UTEP in economics and marketing and later earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Texas School of Law. He currently practices international arbitration and litigation.

   Amir’s mother, Marion Jones, is one of the most famous sprinters of her generation. She won gold at the 1997 World Championships in the 100m and again at the 1999 World Championships in Seville, Spain. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Jones initially won three gold medals and two bronze medals, but these were later stripped after she admitted to lying to federal investigators about her knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs during the BALCO scandal.

   Despite the challenges faced by his parents, Amir is carving out his own path in the world of athletics. His commitment to the University of Texas marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his burgeoning career. The University of Texas has a storied history in track and field, and with the guidance of top coaches and access to world-class facilities, Amir is well-positioned to develop his talents further.

   Amir’s decision to attend the University of Texas is a nod to his father’s legacy, as Obadele also pursued his legal education at the University of Texas School of Law after his successful athletic career. The younger Thompson will now have the opportunity to build on his father’s legacy while forging his own identity in the sport.

   As he prepares to join the Longhorns, Amir Thompson carries the weight of a storied lineage but also the promise of a bright future. The track and field community will be watching closely as he begins his collegiate journey, eager to see how this young talent will develop under the guidance of one of the top athletic programs in the United States.

   

• Mowatt joins Boston University as assistant coach

  Former Jamaica 400m hurdler Kemar Mowatt, who has overseen the development of four NCAA champions and eight Olympians, was hired by Boston University as the assistant coach for track & field, director of track & field and cross-country Grant Cartwright announced Tuesday.

  Mowatt, who will oversee the sprints and hurdles for the BU Terriers, joins the staff there after serving as the volunteer assistant track & field coach at the University of Arkansas where the women were crowned the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field champions.

  Since starting in the role in 2022, Mowatt was responsible for the sprints and hurdles for the women's program and served as the recruiting coordinator.

  While there, he coached four NCAA individual champions in Rachel Glenn, Nickisha Pryce, Amber Anning and Phillip Lemonious. He also helped multiple athletes become SEC champions and coached his athletes to four school record performances. 

  "I am very excited to welcome Kemar to our program and Boston University," Cartwright told Goterriers.com.

  "We cannot wait to see the impact he will have on our student-athletes in the classroom and on the track."

  Simultaneously, Mowatt was an assistant track & field coach at Hurdle Mechanic Track Club where he started in 2023.

  He coached all sprints and hurdles athletes and was one of two coaches accountable for qualifying five athletes to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
   
  Prior to coaching in Arkansas, Mowatt was the volunteer assistant coach for track & field at Clemson where he oversaw the development of both the men's and women's sprints and hurdles squads and assisted in the team's marketing efforts. His athletes achieved three school records.
   
  "I am extremely excited and deeply honored to take on this position as men's and women's assistant sprints/hurdles coach," said Mowatt.

   "I want to express my sincere thanks to director Grant Cartwright and the entire Boston University administration for their unwavering commitment to providing the best possible experience for student-athletes. I am eager to collaborate with exceptional coaches and support staff and the academic community to help develop the next generation of Terriers."

  Mowatt ran professionally with Adidas Running from 2019 to 2023. He was a semi-finalist in the 400m hurdles at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. 

  In addition to being a two-time Jamaican National Champion and 2017 World Championships finalist in the 400m hurdles, Mowatt won bronze in the event at the 2019 Pan American Games, was a semifinalist at the 2022 World Athletic Championships and was a 2022 Commonwealth Games Finalist.
   
  As a student-athlete at Arkansas, Mowatt was a nine-time USTFCCCA All-American and a two-time SEC Outdoor Champion in the 400m hurdles. Mowatt earned All-American status throughout his tenure in the 400m hurdles, the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay. 
   

• 2024 NCAA Indoor 800m champion Rivaldo Marshall transfers to University of Arkansas

  2024 NCAA Indoor 800m champion Rivaldo Marshall will be rocking new colors when fans see him competing on the NCAA circuit this upcoming season.

  The 22-year-old former Calabar High standout has swapped Iowa City for Fayetteville after transferring to the University of Arkansas from the University of Iowa where he spent his Junior season.

  Prior to transferring to Iowa last year, Marshall went to Indian Hills Community College where he enjoyed a lot of success on the NJCAA circuit.

  He won the 2022 NJCAA Outdoor 800m title before winning the NJCAA Indoor 800m title a year later.

  Marshall was also a seven-time NJCAA All-American.

  He has personal bests of 1:45.86 outdoors and 1:46.86 indoors. Both those times were achieved in 2024.