Record-setting Charokee Young makes former coach Corey Bennett proud

By February 17, 2021

Hydel track coach Corey Bennett has expressed pride in being involved in the development of an ambitious and "hard-working” Charokee Young.

The former Jamaican high-school star was a key member of Texas A&M’s record-breaking 4x400m relay team that set new standards at the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas last Saturday.

The 20-year-old Young ran a third-leg split of 51.12 as Texas A&M set an all-time collegiate record of 3:26.27.

The incredible time makes them the fourth-fastest women’s 4x400m relay team and is the ninth-fastest in history.

In addition to being a season-best run, the time broke the meet record of 3:27.94 set by Texas in 2016 as well as the facility record of 3:27.66 set by Texas in 2003.

Texas was more than six-seconds behind in second place with their season-best time of 3:32.64. Florida State University also ran a season-best of 3:34.02 for third.

The team of Young, Athing Mu, the U20 indoor 400m world record holder; Syaira Richardson and Jania Martin, will now go down in history as one of the greatest ever in school history. Only Mu’s split of 50.27 was faster than Young’s as Martin opened with 53.04. Richardson, who handed over to the Jamaican, split 51.86 on the second leg.

“3.26 indoor is such a special run, even outdoors, it’s a great run and to have the second-fastest split of 51.1 on such a special team. It’s really a blessing to see that you had something to do with her development,’ said Bennett.

“She is in an excellent programme at Texas A&M and I am so happy that we actually chose that school for her.”

Bennett believes her experience at Hydel has prepared Young for what she has been accomplishing since she enrolled at Texas A&M.

“She is going well. She is improving every weekend. She was also part of several record-breaking Hydel teams at the Penn Relays so she is used to being on several good 4x400m teams,” he said.

Young has thrived at Texas A&M ever since she arrived there two seasons ago after winning the finals of the 800m at the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships in Kingston in March 2019.

The then Hydel star clocked 2:06.02 to win gold ahead of the talented duo of Shaquena Foote and Abigail Schaaffe, who were second and third, respectively.

In her first season at A&M, she ran 2:05.80 over 800m indoors. She subsequently dropped down to the 400m and so far this season has run a personal best 51.93 on February 6.

Bennett said while he was disappointed that she has dropped the 800m he sees where it has been beneficial to Young’s development.

“It’s paying off and I am sure that her coaches and her handlers right now are preparing her looking at getting her ready for trials this year. She will do well at trials as long as she remains healthy,” Bennett said while revealing Young’s ultimate ambition.

“Charokee will achieve through hard work and she is not afraid to work hard to achieve what she wants. She wants to make an Olympic team or World Champs team and she will stop at nothing (to achieve her goal).

 

 

 

Leighton Levy

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.

Related items

  • Naggo Head takes 12-point lead into decisive day of INSPORTS/Devon Biscuits Primary Schools Central Champs Naggo Head takes 12-point lead into decisive day of INSPORTS/Devon Biscuits Primary Schools Central Champs

    Naggo Head Primary surged to a 12-point lead heading in the final day of the INSPORTS/Devon Biscuits Primary Schools Central Championship at GC Foster College, in St Catherine, on Tuesday.

    They won three of the eighth relays, all in record fashion, which propelled them to 89 points after 11 finals. Naggo Head is followed by Greater Portmore on 77 points, while defending champions Spanish Town Primary are third with 74.5 points, with St John’s Primary (58 points) in fourth. Davis Primary rounds out the top five on 33 points.

    There will be 29 finals on Wednesday's final day with the Central Champion to be crowned at the end.

    The winning school will walk away with $350,000, with $250,000 going to the second-placed team, and $200,000 for third. Fourth to 10th place teams will collect $100,000 each.

    In the day’s first final, Yasheka Lewis of Gregory Park won the Girls Cricketball Open with a throw of 43.86m smashing the record for the second time in two day. She earlier threw 41.09m.

    Naggo Head got massive points finishing second and third courtesy of Tahnida Gordon (40.82m) and Deranique Gordon (38.73m).

    Bridgeport Primary won the Girls Class Four 4x100 relay lowering the record they set on Monday to 1:01.50. Greater Portmore (1:01.82) was second, ahead Davis Primary (1:01.97).

    In the Boys’ Class Four 4x100, Naggo Head sped to an impressive 58.94 and destroyed the previous record of 1:00.14 set earlier by Greater Portmore. Davis primary (59.87) and Greater Portmore (1:01.43) were the runners-up.

    Naggo Head returned and won the Girls' Class Three relay in a record 55.28 and erased their own mark of 56.75 established in the heats. Davis Primary (56.31) continued their good showing in second position.

    The Boys’ Class Three 4x100 relay was an exciting one, with Greater Portmore just edging Naggo Head in a thriller. They clocked a record 54.44 to Naggo Head's 54.48.

    As the records continued to tumble, Naggo Head continued to pile up the points, as they captured the Girls' Class Two 4x100 in a record run of 52.73, ahead of Greater Portmore (53.40) and Spanish Town (54.83).

    So impressive were Naggo Head girls that the boys in the same class, ran a record 53.12. That record was clocked by Greater Portmore, who won ahead of Southborough (53.32), and Ascot Primary (53.45).

    Greater Portmore took the Girls' Class One 4x100 in 52.81, which was also a record. They won ahead of Naggo Head (53.07) and Spanish Town (53.09).

    The final relay, the Boys' Class One, saw Spanish Town secure their only win, clocking 50.34 ahead of Southborough (50.65).

  • Butler, Cooper take positives from U-17 friendly series; eye improvements ahead of qualifiers Butler, Cooper take positives from U-17 friendly series; eye improvements ahead of qualifiers

    Jamaica’s Under-17 men's Head coach Altimont Butler and his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart Shawn Cooper, took heart from their teams’ performances in the recent two-match friendly series, as they welcomed the early preparations for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.

    The teams shared the series one win apiece, as Trinidad and Tobago won the first encounter 1-0, before the Jamaicans replied with a 2-1 victory in the second contest at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence last weekend.

    Both Butler and Cooper believe their objectives for this, the early stages of their preparations, were met as both anticipate significant improvements along the way in their build up to the 2025 Concacaf Men’s Under-17 Championships, which will serve as the qualifier to that age group’s World Cup in Qatar, also scheduled for next year.

    “The objective was to see how we could connect as a group. It wasn’t about the results as we are still trying to learn the characteristics of the players. It was good for me to see them in an international game, and I think we can get it together soon,” Butler said.

    Earlier this year, FIFA, announced that the Under-17 World Cup will be expanded from 24 to 48 teams, this Butler said increases their chances of making the final cut for the global showpiece, as he is expecting to unearth some talented overseas-based players to strengthen the team.

    “That means more spots for Concacaf, and that gives us even a greater opportunity to qualify for the next World Cup. However, in order to qualify, we have to fix a few things,” he noted.

    For Cooper, not losing the series away was a positive in and of itself, as it represents a solid platform on which his young Soca Warriors outfit can build going forward.

    “For me, leaving here one-all in the series, I think I am on top. We took the first rubber. They had to come hard to equalise, so we are leaving Jamaica with our heads held high. It is always beneficial in playing Jamaica. This game was played like a proper international game and not like a training game or a friendly. Some of our guys saw what it takes to play at the international level and it is all well for their development,” Copper shared.

    “We are hoping to go foreign and see what guys we have that can fill in. We have a number of guys at Inter Miami who played against Olympic Lyon, so we have about three of them. We are looking to broaden our horizons so that when we go back to Trinidad, with the exposure these guys have, it will only do well for us in going forward,” he added.

  • Charlton donates world record singlet and bib to Museum of World Athletics Charlton donates world record singlet and bib to Museum of World Athletics

    Devynne Charlton has donated her Bahamian team singlet and name bib from the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow to the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA).

    The 28-year-old Charlton lowered her own world-record, which she set when she ran 7.67 in New York in New York on February 11, when she ran 7.65 to win her first global title in the Scottish capital.

    She finished clear of France’s defending champion Cyrena Samba-Mayela. Charlton took silver behind the French athlete in Belgrade two years before.

    Charlton handed over her Glasgow top to World Athletics President Sebastian Coe at the official press conference staged infield at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau.

    "Charlton’s near faultless final in Glasgow was one of two world records during a standout evening session," said Coe.

    "On behalf of the Museum of World Athletics, I gratefully thank Charlton for her generous donation, which perfectly embodies her exceptional indoor season.

    "In an Olympic year, it is worth reflecting that Charlton’s singlet joins an artefact of a sprint hurdling legend in the MOWA. Our museum’s collection holds the embroidered ‘Nederland’ badge which Fanny Blankers-Koen wore when winning the Olympic 80m hurdles gold, one of four victories achieved by ‘The Flying Dutchwoman’ at the London 1948 Olympic Games."

    Charlton expressed joy and excitement at the donation.

    "I am very happy to present my world indoor championship winning singlet and bib to the Museum of World Athletics. I will be excited to see them displayed online in 3D and exhibited around the world. I hope they help inspire future athletes and fans about the excitement of athletics,” she said.

    "It is a great honour to have my achievements recognised in the museum alongside those of many all-time greats, whose careers I dream to emulate as I fulfil my track ambitions," she added.

    Charlton’s World Athletics Indoor Championships winning kit will also sit with the shoes and clothing of two other world indoor 60m hurdles champions in the Heritage Collection of the MOWA.

    Olympic champions Gail Devers of USA and Sally Pearson of Australia, respectively world indoor 60m hurdles champions in Birmingham 2003 and Istanbul 2012, donated their singlets, bib numbers and running spikes to the MOWA from their 2004 (60m gold, 60m hurdles silver) and 2014 (60m hurdles silver) world indoor campaigns.

     

     

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.