Decorated Jamaica track star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has brushed aside suggestions of retirement, insisting that she is feeling strong and at the peak of her career.
Although the sprinter turned 34-years-old this year, an age that in past decades would ordinarily see most sprinters, well outside prime years, looking to hang up their spikes, Fraser-Pryce’s performances last season proved she did not fall into that category.
In June, Fraser-Pryce ran the then fastest time of her career over 100m, clocking what was then the second-fastest time ever run over the distance at 10.63. The sprinter had to settle for second spot at the Olympics behind the irrepressible Elaine Thompson-Herah but even so, there was little doubt that the duo was in a different class.
A month later, however, Fraser-Pryce bettered the time she set earlier in the year after clocking 10.60, the third-fastest time ever run over the distance, behind Thompson-Herah’s 10.54 and Florence Griffith-Joyner’s longstanding world record of 10.49. Now, age aside, the diminutive Jamaican is hoping to push those boundaries even further.
“I’m at the peak of my career. It’s so mind-blowing that I think I owe it to myself, I owe it to the next generation of women that will come after me and those that are still here, to push this to another level,” Fraser-Pryce told Sky Sports News.
“I said to my husband and my coach, it’s so strange because I’ve heard of people when they are about to retire they say they’re feeling so much pain. And while you understand their journey, I’m looking at it like, I still feel good! And if I feel good, why not go for it,” she added.
Fraser-Pryce is one of the sport’s most decorated athletes having won a total of 11 World Championships and 8 Olympic medals.
Veteran track & field coaches Maurice Wilson, Kerrylee Ricketts, and Corey Bennett among honourees at National Coaches Day Awards; USA’s Ryan Crouser to receive special award
The Jamaica Track & Field Coaches Association has announced that esteemed track and field coaches Maurice Wilson, Kerrylee Ricketts, and Corey Bennett are among several coaches who will be honoured on November 15, 2024, as part of the annual National Coaches Day celebrations. The awards recognize long-standing service and contributions to the development of Jamaican athletics, with categories acknowledging coaches' years of dedication and impact on the sport.
The awards, presented across five categories, celebrate the longevity and influence of track and field coaches in Jamaica. The categories include the Silver Award (20-25 years of service), Gold Award (26-30 years), Platinum Award (30-40 years), Lifetime Achievement Award (over 40 years), and the prestigious Master Coach Award. The recipients of these awards were selected by a committee from nominations submitted by members of the Association.
Wilson, a veteran coach with decades of experience guiding athletes to the highest levels of international success, will be presented with the Platinum Award. Joining him in this category are notable figures such as Bertland Cameron, John Mair, Locksley Anderson, Richard Derby, Patrick Johnson, and Clarence Greenfield. Wilson has been a pivotal figure in the development of numerous Olympic and World Championship athletes, and his continued excellence in the field is well-regarded across the sporting world.
Bennett, known for his exceptional work with youth athletes and his contributions to the success of Jamaica’s junior programs, will be awarded the Gold Award. Bennett's influence has extended across multiple levels of the sport, from high school to the international stage, helping to cultivate the next generation of Jamaican track and field talent. Alongside Bennett in the Gold Award category are Lloyd Clarke and Hamlin Pagon.
Ricketts, another influential coach known for developing world-class jumpers, will be honoured with the Silver Award for his contribution to the sport. Ricketts has been instrumental in shaping athletes who have represented Jamaica with distinction in regional and global competitions. Joining him in receiving the Silver Award are Joyclyn Gibson, Marlo Kinghorn, Milton Seargeant, Megan Wilson-Copeland, Marsha Simpson-Montaque, and Gavin James.
The awards ceremony, which will take place under the theme "The Coach: Developing, Empowering and Enriching Athletes," will also honour four coaches with Lifetime Achievement Awards, including Mike Ollivierre, Victor “Poppie” Thomas, Leacroft Bolt, and Raymond “KC” Graham. These veteran coaches have each contributed more than 40 years of service to Jamaican athletics, playing pivotal roles in nurturing talent and elevating the nation's track and field reputation on the world stage.
Additionally, American coach Ryan Crouser will receive the Hector-Smith Master Coach Award for his guidance of Jamaican athlete Roje Stona to a historic gold medal in the men’s discus at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This award is named in honor of the late Jamaican coaching legends Edward Hector and Eldemire Smith.
The Jamaica Track & Field Coaches Association, recognized internationally and endorsed by both the JAAA and World Athletics, has held this annual event since 2022 to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of coaches across all levels of track and field. National Coaches Day, declared by the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Linton Allen, on September 27, 2022, serves as a day of recognition for coaches' involvement in athlete development and their significant role in shaping Jamaica’s national psyche.
Ayden Renalls set to make history for Jamaica at WKF World Championships in Venice
Jamaican karate prodigy Ayden John Andrew Renalls is set to carve his name into history as he prepares to represent Jamaica at the prestigious WKF Cadet, Junior, and U21 World Championships in Venice, Italy. The event, scheduled for October 9-13, 2024, will see Renalls become the second Jamaican karate athlete to compete at this global stage.
Born on October 8, 2007, Renalls has been dedicated to the sport of karate since the age of six. His journey, inspired by his Jamaican grandparents, has been nothing short of exceptional, blending early talent with years of hard work. Competing in the highly competitive -61kg weight category, the young fighter has been consistently delivering impressive performances both at home and abroad.
Renalls’ karate journey began with Go Kan Ryu, before transitioning to the Goshukan Karate Academy and the Uechi Ryu Association, where he refined his skills. Over the years, he has built an illustrious resume, highlighted by becoming the 2024 English Karate National Champion and earning the top ranking as the No. 1 EKF Cadet Athlete in the -61kg category.
Among his many achievements, Renalls captured gold at the UK National Championships in Sheffield in 2017, and two years later, he won silver at the World Cup Event in Milton Keynes. In 2018, he showcased his prowess on the international stage, securing gold at the Swiwakai International Championships in Italy. His competitive spirit remained strong as he won a bronze medal at the Open International Liege in Belgium in 2022 and followed that with a silver medal at the same event in 2023.
While Renalls’ karate career has taken him around the world, his dedication to academics remains equally impressive. He has earned sports scholarships at both Haberdashers' Knights Academy and Sackville Independent School, where he is currently excelling in his studies in Economics, History, and Politics. His ability to balance academic and athletic excellence is a testament to his discipline and commitment, as evidenced by his above-average grades and acceptance into his preferred schools.
Now, as he prepares to represent Jamaica on one of the sport's biggest stages, Renalls continues to inspire with his passion, drive, and undeniable talent. His journey to Venice marks the latest chapter in what promises to be a storied career, and Jamaica will be eagerly supporting him as he takes on the world.
2019 World champion Tajay Gayle leaves MVP track club
2019 World Championship long jump gold medallist Tajay Gayle has left the MVP track and field club.
No reason has been given as to why the 2019 RJRGleaner National Sportsman of the year left the club based at the University of Technology in Kingston.
However, the 28-year-old national record holder looks set to start working with St. Elizabeth-based jumps coach Kerry-Lee Ricketts, husband of Shanieka Ricketts.
Ricketts has guided the career of his wife to silver medals at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships as well as silver at this summer's Paris Olympics.
Gayle struggled with knee injuries in the 2021 and 2022 seasons before returning to take bronze at last year’s World Championships in Budapest behind teammate Wayne Pinnock and Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglu.
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