Jamaican hammer thrower Erica Belvit has expressed her deep disappointment at not making the Jamaican team for the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite winning at the national championships just over a week ago. Belvit’s winning throw of 68.28m defeated Nayoka Clunis (66.63m) and Marie Forbes (63.14m), who finished second and third, respectively.
However, Clunis, having thrown a season’s best of 71.83m that exceeded the World Athletics 'B' standard of 70.00m, and who is ranked 25th in the world, has been selected for the Olympic team. Belvit, on the other hand, did not meet the B standard and is ranked 57th, rendering her ineligible for selection.
Taking to Instagram, Belvit shared her emotional journey and the challenges she faced this season.
“I don’t really have many words to describe this season other than ‘I tried my best’. Because I did,” Belvit wrote. “I came out of this season a National Champion, but I unfortunately could not put it together to qualify for the Olympics this year.”
The distraught hammer thrower revealed that her season was marred by a car accident just before it began, which resulted in her wearing a neck brace for nearly a month due to nerve issues in her neck and shoulders. Despite these setbacks, she persevered, balancing rest and training in an effort to reach her peak performance. However, time was not on her side.
“I tried so hard to allow my body the rest I could afford while continuing my training to the best of my ability. But the clock was running out and it became clear that my ‘best’ just wasn’t going to be good enough,” she lamented.
Belvit’s emotional struggle was palpable as she described the toll it took on her mental health. “I’ve never really thought of myself as a crier; this season broke that (and me) down for sure. I cried for and grieved this season for weeks; every single day. Woke up, crying. Falling asleep, crying. Before, during, and after trainings, crying. In airports, on planes, crying. Because I love to throw, and I couldn’t fathom that the dream I had to make it to this Olympic Games was dying right in front of me.”
The heartbreak was compounded by her exclusion from Jamaica’s team for the World Championships in Budapest last year, making the missed Olympic opportunity even more painful. “I felt like I needed to get there, especially after not being selected to go to Worlds last year,” she added.
Despite the setback, Belvit expressed gratitude to those who supported her throughout her journey. “Thank you to everyone who has shown support and love throughout this season and my entire career. Thank you to @wilfredo_dejesus for sticking with me through this season. Thank you to @rskim7296 at @reformpt_natick for your amazing work - I couldn’t have gotten back into competition shape this quickly without you. To the special few who spoke life into me and picked me up when I didn’t have strength, I love you.”
Looking ahead, Belvit remains uncertain about her future but is determined to take time to recover mentally. “I’m not really sure where I go from here; I definitely need some time to get my mental together. Only God knows what’s next,” she concluded.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Miami announced as host city for second Grand Slam Track event from May 2-4
Grand Slam Track™, the new global home of professional track competition, launched earlier this year by four-time US Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, today officially announced that Miami, Florida, will be the host city for the second of the four Slam events, when Grand Slam Track™ competition begins in 2025.
The Miami Slam will take place at Ansin Sports Complex, in Miramar, Florida, on May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th 2025, welcoming the fastest racers in the world to compete for huge prizes.
With Miami joining Los Angeles and Kingston, Jamaica, the one additional remaining location will be announced later this week.
“South Florida knows how to host big events, and that’s exactly what we’re bringing with Grand Slam Track™,” said Michael Johnson, the league’s founder and Commissioner.
“This region has a real passion for sports, and I’m confident the energy here will make it a memorable experience for both the racers and the fans. We’re building something special, and Miami is going to be a huge part of that.”
With its world-renowned sports culture, South Florida is set to provide the ideal stage for Grand Slam Track™.
Nugent excited to compete at Grand Slam Track opener in front of home crowd
Jamaica’s national 100m hurdles record holder Ackera Nugent couldn’t hide her excitement when she found out that the first ever Grand Slam Track event would take place on home soil in Jamaica.
Nugent found out for the first time during an interview with Grand Slam Track founder and four-time Olympic Gold medallist Michael Johnson published on Grand Slam Track's social media pages on Monday.
The 22-year-old Olympic and World Championship finalist is one of three Jamaican athletes, alongside Roshawn Clarke and Rushell Clayton, to sign to the inaugural season of Grand Slam Track as racers.
The first of four slam events will take place at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, a stone’s throw away from Nugent’s alma mater, Excelsior High School.
“That’s a great feeling being on home soil,” Nugent said in the interview.
“I know I need to focus on the meet but the food, getting a free trip home, having my mom being able to see me, not only at trials but at another very big meet competing against ladies from different areas and countries, that would be really good,” added the reigning national champion.
The 2023 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor sprint hurdles champion also believes this experience will be good for fans in Jamaica who will get to see athletes that they never thought they would see compete live.
“I feel like the nation itself would really like that and they would come out and support because they’re going to be able to see athletes that really did not ever come to the country but they’re fans of,” she said.
Nugent is coming off a bittersweet 2024 season. On one hand, she experienced disappointment at the Paris Olympics in August, failing to finish the final.
On the other hand, she established a new national record of 12.24, the joint fourth-fastest time ever, at the Rome Diamond League later that month.
Roshawn Clarke describes signing with Grand Slam Track as a dream come true
Roshawn Clarke, one of Jamaica’s most promising young track talents, has achieved a major milestone in his career by signing with Grand Slam Track™, fulfilling a long-held dream of working under the guidance of track legend Michael Johnson. Clarke, who set the World U20 record of 47.34 in the 400m hurdles, joins fellow Jamaicans Rushell Clayton and Ackera Nugent in the newly launched league, becoming one of 37 racers already signed for the inaugural 2025 season.
Clarke’s talent and consistent performances, including his appearance in the 400m hurdles final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, made him an attractive candidate for Grand Slam Track despite his heartbreaking stumble at the final hurdle in Paris. Founder Michael Johnson, speaking at Monday's announcement at the Jamaica Pegasus that Jamaica will host the inaugural meet from April 4-, 2025, praised Clarke, saying, “One of the things for us as a league is finding the new talent, new stars of tomorrow, and Roshawn certainly represents that. As the World U20 record holder, his excellence and what he represents are exactly what we want in our athletes. We are very excited to have Roshawn as one of our first racers.”
For Clarke, the signing was the realization of a dream he’d held ever since the new track league was announced. “It’s an exciting feeling to be a Grand Slam Track racer,” he said. “Not many people get the opportunity to be one of the best in the world. To be able to sign as a racer… only the fastest, and I’m ranked fifth right now, it’s a great feeling.”
When his agent, Cubie Seegobin, called with the news, Clarke was overwhelmed with joy. "I was making a lot of noise," Clarke shared, laughing. "I was right next to my mom. I literally parked my car and ran out, pure noise. I had always told my mom that I wanted Grand Slam to sign me. I was at the supermarket when I got the email, and I parked the car and ran!”
Reflecting on his Olympic final experience, Clarke emphasized the resilience it inspired in him. “The Olympic final, I fell at the last hurdle. That experience made me realize how important it is to stay focused and bounce back. I learned how to gather myself and go again,” he said, underscoring his determination to improve as he prepares for the 2025 season.
The Grand Slam Track format will challenge Clarke in both the 400m and 400m hurdles over four weekends throughout the season, with each Slam weekend including two races. The intense schedule has Clarke and his coach adapting their training to ensure he’s prepared not only for Grand Slam events but for other key competitions throughout the year.
For Clarke, the opportunity to compete among the best while working closely with a track icon like Michael Johnson is the fulfillment of a dream and a testament to his potential on the world stage. Fans can look forward to seeing this rising Jamaican star in action when Grand Slam Track kicks off its inaugural season.
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