Danielle Williams, the reigning 2023 World Championships gold medallist in the 100m hurdles, is feeling optimistic about her chances of making her first Olympic team following a promising showing at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational in Kingston on Saturday night.
Despite finishing second in the 100m hurdles with a season-best time of 12.46, Williams displayed confidence and determination as she spoke about her performance and her preparations leading up to the national trials at the end of June.
Looking on, it appeared that Williams had an early lead before losing momentum mid-race which allowed world-record holder, Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan to surge through to out-lean Williams at the line.
Amusan won in a world-leading 12.40 with the USA’s Christina Clemons finishing third in 12.54.
Williams explained what she believed occurred in the race.
"I didn’t feel like I slowed down in the middle of the race. I touched one of the hurdles which has been my Achilles heel so far," Williams commented. "Still working on it so that was probably what happened but I feel like I was still able to get back the momentum to through to the end. I feel like we’re going in the right direction."
Williams highlighted the importance of being healthy this season, expressing gratitude for her current condition compared to previous years. "Oh, we give God thanks for that because for the past few seasons this time of the year I’ve always been dealing with something," she explained. "So to make it so far and we’re doing very good, we’re managing the injuries, I think we’re in a good spot."
Looking ahead to the upcoming national trials, which are six weeks away, Williams deferred to her coach, Lennox Graham, but emphasized her confidence in her current form. "I don’t necessarily know how close we are," she admitted. "Coach Lennox Graham designed the workouts, I just show up so I don’t know where we are for that but I know we are in very good shape. We’re doing awesome in training, we’re healthy so we’re just giving God glory and thanking Him for bringing us so far and asking Him to carry us for the rest of the way."
The Jamaica Athletics Invitational also witnessed strong performances from other athletes, including Daniel Roberts of the USA, who won the 110m hurdles in 13.17, and Eric Edwards, also from the USA, who finished second with a time of 13.33. Jamaican hurdler Lafranz Campbell secured third place in the event with a time of 13.37.
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Grand Slam Track adds Richards, Roberts to stacked roster for inaugural season
Grand Slam Track has added more star power to its roster ahead of its inaugural season in 2025 with the signings of Daniel Roberts and Jereem Richards.
The USA’s Roberts took silver behind Grant Holloway in the 110m hurdles at the Paris Olympics while Trinidad & Tobago’s Richards was a finalist in the 400m, narrowly missing out on a medal with a national record 43.78 in fourth.
Roberts also took bronze at the 2023 World Championships. Reflecting on his career, Roberts said, “track has been my life for as long as I can remember, and it’s about always moving forward. Grand Slam Track feels like the right place to keep evolving as an athlete, and I’m ready to embrace that. I’m grateful for this opportunity and am excited to take my sport to new heights.”
Richards, who specializes in the 200m and 400m, is a two-time Olympian and 2022 World Indoor Championships gold medalist. He shared his perspective on the sport.
“Every race is a chance to tell a story about where I’ve come from and where I’m going. Grand Slam Track is the perfect platform for that. It’s not just about winning; it’s about showing the world my journey, one race at a time. I’m proud to represent Trinidad and Tobago in Grand Slam Track™ and eager to show the world what I’ve got.”
The addition of Roberts and Richards to Grand Slam Track™ marks a significant step in the league's growth, further enhancing its reputation as a platform for elite athletes.
Intriguing matchups scheduled as teams push for semi-final berths in Caribbean Cup
Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant FA and Trinidad and Tobago’s AC Port of Spain and Police FC are among teams that will be hoping to position themselves for a semi-final berth as the Concacaf Caribbean Cup continues on Tuesday.
Two Group B encounters will get the week’s action under way, with Haiti’s Ouanaminthe set to host Antigua’s Grenades in the Dominican Republic, while AC Port of Spain welcomes the other Dominican Republic outfit, Cibao FC.
Meanwhile, the Group A contests between another Haitian club Real Hope and Arnett Gardens are set for Wednesday, with Police FC and Mount Pleasant set to rub shoulders on Thursday.
Ouanaminthe FC vs. Grenades FC
With both teams having only secured a point from their first two games, this contest represents an opportunity for either to move closer to the leaders, provided they execute efficiently to snare all three points.
Grenades FC and Ouanaminthe FC currently sit fourth and fifth with a point each, as Dominican Republic’s Moca FC comfortably occupies pole position on seven points ahead of Cibao (four points) and Port of Spain (two points).
Fredelin Philistin, who scored in Ouanaminthe’s 1-3 loss to Moca last Wednesday, will be key to their chances of securing their first win on this occasion.
The same is true about Sean Tomlinson, who notched a late equaliser for Grenades FC against Port of Spain on last.
Anything but a win for either team will bury their chances of progressing any further in the tournament.
AC Port of Spain vs. Cibao FC
With two points from three games, AC Port of Spain will enter this, their final group stage fixture against Cibao FC, also knowing that anything but a win will see them falling short of the semi-final.
Still, a win at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, doesn’t necessarily guarantee AC Port of Spain a semi-final spot, but it would provisionally push them into second above Cibao. From there, the Twin Island Republic’s representatives would then have to hope a result between Ouanaminthe and Cibao, on October 1 falls in their favour.
Shackiel Smek and John Paul Rochford will be the point men for AC Port of Spain.
Meanwhile, for Cibao FC, a win or a draw would not only extend their unbeaten run but also ensure they remain in a favourable position for a semi-final appearance.
Jean Lopez and Eddipo Rodriguez are expected to cause trouble for AC Port of Spain’s backline.
Real Hope FA vs. Arnett Gardens FC
Group A also remains in the balance, as Cavalier remain tops on six points ahead of Real Hope FA and Police FC on four points each. Mount Pleasant is also in striking distance on three points, while Arnett Gardens is without a point, but can turn their chances around with a win at the National Stadium on Wednesday.
Real Hope will enter the contest with their tails high having clipped Cavalier 2-1 last week, and knowing that another win would propel them to the top of the standing with one game still to come against Mount Pleasant on October 3.
The Haitian club will look to Rikanel Chery and Steeve Mondestin to lead their charge.
Despite their current situation, Arnett Gardens, the reigning Caribbean Shield champions, are no pushovers and head coach Xavier Gilbert will be hoping they can stamp their class in this contest to gradually revive their chances of progressing further.
Shai Smith, Warner Brown and others will be hoping to get some goals under their belts should goal-difference come into play, as the game will serve as Real Hope’s home fixture.
Miscellaneous Police FC vs. Mount Pleasant FA
Police FC will welcome the fact that their final group stage fixture will be at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Thursday. However, the fact that they will be up against a highly-motivated Mount Pleasant team doesn’t allow much room for comfort.
But having edged one Jamaican club in Arnett Gardens 2-1 last week, Police will be backing their quality to down another, which would keep them in contention for a semi-final berth while slightly a draw or a loss could spell trouble for their chances.
Ezekiel Kesar will be their point man in attack.
A win for Mount Pleasant would also keep them in the running for a semi-final berth with a game in hand, but unlike their previous games, they will need to be at their best and capitalise on their chances to stay alive.
Jashaun Anglin and Kimoni Bailey are just two players to look out for in a deep squad that possesses immense quality.
Blake, Ogando, Camacho-Quinn secure wins at Gala dei Castelli in Switzerland
Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake and the Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando both secured wins at the Gala dei Castelli, a two-day World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet in Bellinzola, Switzerland from September 8-9.
Blake, a bronze medallist at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow earlier this season, continued his fine form lately with 9.96 to win the men’s 100m ahead of South Africa’s Akani Simbine (10.04) and Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme (10.11).
Ogando, a 200m finalist at the Paris Olympics last month, won the event in Switzerland comfortably in 20.19 ahead of Canada’s Aaron Brown (20.49) and Switzerland’s William Reis (20.55).
Both Blake and Ogando will be in action at the Wanda Diamond League final from September 13-14 in Brussels.
On the women’s side, Puerto Rican Olympic medallist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn took top spot in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.52, just ahead of American Grace Stark (12.54). Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji ran 12.82 in third.
Camacho-Quinn will also be in action in Brussels.
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