Jamaica National Championships

Jamaica National Championships (39)

In a jaw-dropping turn of events last Friday night at the National Senior and Junior Championships held at Jamaica's National Stadium, Rohan Watson, a rising star from MVP Track Club, emerged as the surprise victor in the highly anticipated men's 100m race.

Watson, a relative unknown in the sprinting world, delivered an exceptional performance, crossing the finish line with a new personal best time of 9.91 seconds.

The shocking upset saw Watson triumph over Ryiem Forde, who secured second place with a personal best time of 9.96 seconds, and the renowned Oblique Seville, a fourth-place finisher at last year's World Athletics Championships, who finished in third place with a time of 10.00 seconds.

The unexpected triumph of Watson sent shockwaves through the athletics community, capturing the attention of fans and experts alike. However, the discovery of this "diamond in the rough" was no accident. Coach Stephen Francis, renowned for his ability to identify and nurture talent, was instrumental in Watson's development and guided him to this remarkable victory.

While speaking exclusively to Sportsmax.TV about Watson's journey, Francis revealed the challenges they faced in finding promising sprinters who were willing to join MVP Track Club.

"None of the so-called brand name sprinters in high school wanted to come to us," Francis explained candidly.

“They said the training is too hard, if your girl up there we can’t do what we want, we can’t buy big cars, we can’t go out at night. They shy away from us.”

Faced with those challenges, Francis said he instructed his team to find him a sprinter who could run 10.5 or 10.4.

“We’ll work with them because a lot of people who have done well with us that’s what times they run. We don’t get people who run 10.1, 10.2 or 10.3.”

It was during a race at Jamaica College (JC) last year that Francis first spotted Watson, who demonstrated promising speed and determination.

Watson, who had completed his high school education at York Castle, displayed enthusiasm when approached by Francis and eagerly joined the MVP Track Club. Despite initially appearing smaller in stature than his counterparts, Watson's dedication and positive attitude set him apart.

“He was very interested and he came but even when I saw him in September for the first time on the training field I thought he was very small. We have had very good success with small sprinters but he looked small.”

However, Francis emphasized the importance of attitude and commitment over raw talent. "It is all about what you do, how you learn, and your willingness to sacrifice," he explained.

Watson exemplified these qualities, showcasing steady progress throughout the year. Observing his discipline and dedication, Francis became increasingly confident in Watson's abilities, foreseeing the potential for a sub-10-second performance.

Watson's victory at the national championships affirmed Francis' belief in his athlete's capabilities. As they approach the World Championships in Budapest, scheduled for August, Francis envisions Watson as a genuine medal contender.

The coach noted that the track conditions during the national championships were not particularly fast, indicating that Watson's time could improve further in more favorable circumstances.

Assessing the global sprinting landscape, Francis acknowledged that the field is wide open, with a few key contenders such as British champion, Zharnel Hughes and potentially Fred Kerley, the reigning world champion. However, he expressed confidence in Watson's prospects, given his impressive performance in a championship setting and his ability to maintain his form over multiple rounds.

“I don’t know what Fred Kerley is looking like and Zharnel is looking looks very, very good but apart (from those two), I think he has as good a shot as everybody else.”

 

Natoya Goule-Toppin ran 1:58.89 to claim her ninth Jamaican 800m title on day four of the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium inn Kingston on Sunday.

The multiple-time Olympic and World Championship finalist comfortably won ahead of 1500m champion, Adelle Tracey, who ran a season’s best 2:01.11. Clemson’s Jessica McLean was third in 2:05.76.

On the men’s side, Rajay Hamilton, who entered the championships as Jamaica’s leader in the event with 1:45.91, got the better of last year’s winner and the national record holder, Navasky Anderson, with a 1:47.28 effort.

Anderson ran 1:47.67 in second while Mississippi State’s Tyrese Reid ran 1:48.45 for third.

 

 

Shericka Jackson and Andrew Hudson both defended their respective 200m titles as the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Championships ended at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday.

Jackson, who ran a world leading 10.65 to take the 100m title on Friday, produced another world-leading effort, 21.71, to complete the sprint double for the second consecutive year.

Five-time World 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran a season’s best 22.26 for second while Texas’ Lanae Tava-Thomas ran 22.55 for third.

On the men’s side, Hudson, the reigning NACAC champion, produced a season’s best 20.11 to take the title ahead of Rasheed Dwyer (20.26) and Tyquendo Tracey (20.48). Yohan Blake, the second fastest man of all time in both the 100m and 200m, was fourth in 20.51.

Olympic bronze medalist, Megan Tapper produced one of her customary big-hearted performances to claim her third national 100m hurdles title on day four of the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday.

Tapper got her usual bullet start and held off NCAA Champion and the fastest Jamaican in the world this year, Arkansas’ Ackera Nugent, to win in 12.64. Nugent’s time in second was 12.67 while 2015 World Champion, Danielle Williams, was third in 12.82.

On the men’s side, Commonwealth champion Rasheed Broadbell ran the second fastest time ever by a Jamaican to claim his maiden national title in the 110m hurdles.

Broadbell, Jamaica’s National Sportsman of the Year for 2022, fought off the fast-finishing Olympic champion, Hansle Parchment, to win in a personal best and world-leading 12.94.

Parchment ran a season’s best 13.12 for second while Orlando Bennett was third in a personal best 13.19.

Nickisha Price and Sean Bailey were crowned as Jamaica’s national 400m champions on day four of the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday.

Price, an NCAA Champion this year in the 4x400m for the University of Arkansas, produced a personal best 50.21 to claim her maiden national title.

400m hurdles champion, Janieve Russell, continued her excellent form at the championships with a personal best 50.76 for second while Candice McLeod, the defending champion, was third in 51.01.

On the men’s side, Bailey, who entered the championships as Jamaica’s season leader in the event with 44.43, ran slightly slower than that with 44.48 to claim his second national title.

Bailey fought off a very game Antonio Watson, who ran a personal best 44.54 for second while Jevaughn Powell, the defending champion, was third in 45.19.

 

Jaydon Hibbert successfully defended his men’s triple jump title on day four of the JAAA/Puma National Senior and Junior Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Arkansas freshman, who already won the SEC and NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles this season, produced a best effort of 17.68m, a stadium record, for the win. Jordan Scott was second with a best jump of 16.32m.

Hibbert will enter the Budapest World Championships in August as one of the favorites for gold. He is currently the world leader in the event courtesy of his personal best and world under-20 record 17.87m done to win the SEC outdoor title in May.

 

Former Kingston College stalwart Wayne Pinnock successfully defended his national long jump title with a massive leap of 8.32 metres in what was a fierce contest at the National Senior Championships at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Pinnock, 22, who has been in superb form this season, was just off his seasons and personal best of 8.37m. The Arkansas University athlete achieved the winning jump on his second attempt in a negative 0.4 metres per second wind reading.

That lead made things interesting, as it followed the 8.27m registered by 2019 World Championships gold medallist, Tajay Gayle, who had to settle for second place. Carey McLeod rounded off the top three spots, cutting the sand at 8.20m.

Meanwhile, Traves Smikle was crowned the men’s discus champion, following his fifth-round effort of 66.12 metres.

The event which took shape in terms of its competitive at the backend, saw Roje Stona finished second with an effort of 65.92m, which at one point, placed him in pole position. 

Five-time national champion and World Championships silver medallist, Fedrick Dacres, had to settle for third as his best effort was measured at 65.79 metres, well short of his personal best of 70.78m.

Currently enjoying what is possibly the best season of her career, Danniel Thomas-Dodd came into the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/Puma National Senior Championships with the sole intention of sharpening up on her form for medal contention at next month’s World Championships.

In doing that, Thomas-Dodd won her eighth national shot put title with a mark of 19.08 metres which she believes is a good indicator of how lethal she can be when focused, as throwing at the National Stadium often poses a challenge for her.

She won ahead of Lloydricia Cameron, whose best mark was 16.37m in the two-athlete competition on Saturday.

“I think it was definitely more of a training exercise for me and for me to come out here and finish with a 19.08m is good. I always expected we could because it is very difficult competing at the National Stadium for us as shot putters as the circle is a little bit uphill, so it makes it difficult perception wise to throw far here.

“So, for me to come out and throw 19, once again, is a very good indicator of where I am at. I wanted to throw a little bit further, but I am not disappointed with where I finished,” Thomas-Dodd said.

Still, the 30-year-old pointed out that she would have appreciated more competition on home soil, as she braces for the tough competition to come at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Thomas-Dodd, who is no stranger to success, having won silver medals at the World Championships and Commonwealth Games levels, has thrown five of her top 10 marks ever this season, topped by a national record 19.77m in May in California, and also three 19.66m in Sweden in June.

 “I think in a sense it (the lack of competition) does throw you off a bit, but I am a person who when I am in a competition, I focus on myself so the fact that there were only two of us out there, didn’t really affect me too much,” Thomas-Dodd shared.

“The only thing is that it was hard to get going because there were not many people competing with because you know when someone throws far it makes you want to throw far as well. So, I think that aspect of it was missing, but it was a good competition, I got through it healthy and that is all I can ask for,” she ended.

She often gives of her best each time she touches the runway, and so it came as no surprise that Shanieka Ricketts secured her fifth national triple jump title at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/Puma Senior Championships at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Ricketts, who has been holding consistent form so far this season, topped rivals in the event after cutting the sand at a wind-aided 14.79 metres on her second attempt. The jump which came in a positive 2.6 metres per second wind reading, followed an opening leap of 14.42m which would have also won her the event.

The two-time World Championships silver medallist won ahead of another in form jumper 21-year-old Ackelia Smith of University of Texas, who had a best mark of 14.26m. Imani Oliver of Tracksmith was third at 13.44m.

“It is good to celebrate a national title, this time it’s the fifth national title and also my fifth World Championship, so I am just definitely looking forward to going to there and doing my best as usual,” Ricketts said shortly after the victory.

With her and Smith having already secured the automatic qualifying standard of 14.52m, Ricketts, 31, is anticipating much when they get to the August 19-27 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Though not yet over the automatic standard, Kimberly Williams is on course to make it three Jamaicans in the event next month, should she maintain her position on ranking points.

 “We will also have three females again in this World Championships so I am happy and excited to see what we will be able to do in Budapest,” Ricketts added.

Shericka Jackson is making a habit of writing down her goals and speaking them into reality.

That was the case again on Friday night when in a breathtaking display of speed and power, Jackson successfully defended her Jamaican 100m title,  leaving spectators in awe as she blazed across the finish line in a world-leading time of 10.65 seconds.

This remarkable achievement not only secured her victory but also etched her name among the fastest women in history, now holding the  title of the fifth fastest woman ever. Only world-recorder holder Florence Griffith-Joyner, Marion Jones, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have run faster.

After first revealing her methods in 2022 when she wrote down her 21.45s 200m to win gold at the World Championships, Jackson explained that it has now become the norm for her explaining that if you fear telling someone about your goals then you fear that you are not capable of achieving them.

After her remarkable run Friday, she revealed that she had written down the desired time back in June after clocking 10.78 seconds at the national stadium in Kingston.

She placed the written goal on her fridge earlier on Friday, using it as a constant reminder of her aspirations.

"I rewrote the time again this morning and I stuck it on the fridge, and I said today is the day. I'm happy I did it in Jamaica, and now it's time to go back to the drawing board," Jackson shared.

While Jackson had already secured a bye to the upcoming World Championships in Budapest for the 200m event, she expressed her intention to participate in the 200m at the championships.

Despite having fewer opportunities to compete in the event this year, she viewed the race as an opportunity for a proper run, aiming to execute her race plan flawlessly.

 Elaborating on her strategy, Jackson emphasized her commitment to always giving her best performance. "For me personally, the hundred was the focus. I already have a bye in the 200, but because I haven't run so many 200s this year, I definitely want to run the 200 at the championships," she explained. "Every time I touch the track, I want to run fast. If it doesn't happen, I'm still grateful. But if I do run fast, I'm super grateful."

Reflecting on her victory and the statement it may have made to her competitors, Jackson remained humble, emphasizing that her primary focus was on her own progress and self-improvement. "I don't think there was a statement made. As I said, it's just a focus on myself, and I think I'm doing that pretty well," she said with gratitude.

With her eyes set on the upcoming challenges and opportunities, Jackson plans to consult with her coach to analyze her performance in the 100m race and identify areas that require refinement. Determined to continue her success at the World Championships, she highlighted the importance of preparation and fixing any aspects that need adjustment before she departs for Budapest.

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