Double Olympic silver medalist Yohan Blake demonstrated that he is far from finished at the 2024 Raiffeisen Austrian Open in Eisenstadt, Austria, on Wednesday, clocking a season-best 10.16 seconds in the 100m heats. However, the final did not go as planned for the Jamaican sprint star, as he was disqualified for a false start, negating his third-place finish time of 10.26 seconds.
The 34-year-old Blake's performance in the heats was a testament to his experience and competitive edge, as he comfortably advanced to the final with the fastest qualifying time. This season-best effort underscored Blake's determination to remain a formidable force in sprinting, even as he continues to navigate the later stages of his illustrious career.
In the final, Blake crossed the finish line third with a time of 10.26 seconds. However, his results were invalidated due to a false start that led to his disqualification. The disqualification came as a significant disappointment, especially after his promising performance in the heats.
Fellow Jamaican sprinter Christania Williams also impressed at the meet. Williams, who is based in Austria and trained by Coach Phillip Unfried, ran a strong race in the women's 100m, clocking an impressive 11.33 seconds. Her performance highlights her consistent progress and potential as she continues to train and compete in Europe.
The Raiffeisen Austrian Open served as a crucial platform for athletes like Blake and Williams to gauge their form and readiness as they prepare for upcoming national champions in just over a month’s time. Despite the setback in the final, Blake's season-best time in the heats remains a positive takeaway, indicating his capacity to compete at high levels.
For Williams, the meet was an opportunity to showcase her talent and the results of her training under Coach Unfried's guidance. Her time of 11.33 seconds is a solid mark as she aims to continue improving and achieving new personal bests.
Sha'Carri Richardson books spot at Paris Olympics with world-leading 10.71 at US trials
In a stunning display of speed and focus, World 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson secured her place at the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning the 100m at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday night. With a world-leading time of 10.71 seconds, Richardson dominated the competition, cementing her status as an early favourite for Olympic gold.
Richardson's final at Hayward Field started with an intense stare-down, a marked departure from her exuberant salutes to the crowd in earlier heats. This newfound focus paid off spectacularly, as Richardson blazed down the track to clinch victory and her first Olympic berth.
Joining her on the plane to Paris are training partners Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry, who finished second and third with times of 10.80 and 10.89 seconds, respectively. Jefferson's time was a lifetime best.
This victory marks a significant milestone in Richardson's career, especially after the disappointment of missing the Tokyo Olympics due to a suspension for marijuana use. She acknowledged the struggles she has faced, saying, "Everything I've been through is everything I have been through to be in this moment right now. There's nothing I've been through that hasn't designed me to sit right here in front of you to answer this question."
Richardson's resurgence has been marked by notable achievements, including winning the 100m at the world championships in Budapest last summer with a personal best of 10.65 seconds. She also anchored the US 4x100 relay team to victory.
Richardson's next goal is to qualify for the 200m. She enters the event with the third-fastest qualifying time, behind Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Gabby Thomas and 2024 NCAA champion McKenzie Long. The first-round heats for the women's 200m are scheduled for Thursday.
Before Richardson's electrifying performance, Noah Lyles, the reigning world champion at 100m, ran his preliminary heat in 9.92 seconds, the fastest time in the first round of men's qualifying. Christian Coleman also advanced winning his heat in 9.99 while Fred Kerley ran 10.02 to also advance.
Sada Williams secures Olympic spot with dominant 400m win at Barbados National Championships
Two-time World Championship 400m bronze medallist Sada Williams has booked her place at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a commanding victory at the 2024 Dasani Powerade Barbados National Championships on Saturday night. Competing at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex just outside Bridgetown, Williams, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion, showcased her class by cruising to victory in the 400m with a time of 51.36 seconds.
Williams' performance was head and shoulders above her competitors. She finished more than two seconds ahead of Tiana Bowen, who clocked 53.67 for second place, and Kelia Bentham, who was more than five seconds back, finishing in 57.00 seconds. Despite the largely underwhelming performances across the board, Williams' victory has cemented her as the standout athlete likely to represent Barbados at the 2024 Paris Olympics this summer.
In the men's 400m race, Desean Boyce emerged victorious with a time of 46.25 seconds, narrowly beating Rahee Taitt-Best, who finished second in 46.58. Jahlee Armstrong completed the podium, coming in third with a time of 46.85 seconds.
The blue-riband 100m sprints saw thrilling finishes in both the men's and women's categories. Mario Burke triumphed in the men's 100m, clocking 10.38 seconds into a headwind of 1.3m/s, edging out Kuron Griffith who finished a hair's breadth behind at 10.39 seconds. Ajani Ince secured third place with a time of 10.44 seconds.
On the women's side, Tristian Evenlyn claimed the national title by breaking Ashley Marshall's national record of 11.37 seconds, set in 2015, with a remarkable time of 11.30 seconds. Kishawna Niles took the silver medal in 11.51 seconds, while Aniya Nurse finished third in 11.72 seconds.
In the 100m hurdles, Adeyah Brewster became the national women's champion by winning the event in 13.60 seconds. She was followed by Ayanna Morgan, who clocked 13.84 seconds, and Makyla Smith, who finished in 15.99 seconds.
Williams' stellar performance in the 400m has not only earned her a spot in the upcoming Olympics but has also reinforced her status as one of Barbados' premier athletes. As the nation looks ahead to the Paris Games, Williams' achievements will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration and pride.
Commonwealth champion Sada Williams to headline Barbados National Championships
Two-time World Championship bronze medalist and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sada Williams headlines a star-studded list of Barbados’s top athletes set to compete at their National Track and Field Championships from June 21-23.
Williams, who trains at the MVP Track Club in Jamaica under the tutelage of Stephen Francis, is her country’s biggest medal hopeful for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games having already qualified.
The 26-year-old will contest the women’s 400m event at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex in Bridgetown.
The Bajan national record holder has, so far, had a sub-par 2024 season by her lofty standards, failing to dip below 50 seconds in all five of her 400m races.
Her season’s best 50.71 came at the Oslo Diamond League on May 30.
Williams created history at 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon by winning 400m bronze in a then-personal best and national record 49.75 seconds.
Later that year, Williams became the first woman to run under 50 seconds at the Commonwealth Games with 49.90 to capture gold. She closed out 2022 with a third-place finish at the Diamond League Final in Zurich in 49.98.
She followed up that fantastic season with another bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
Williams produced a personal best and national record 49.58 in the semi-finals before returning to run slightly slower in the final, 49.60, to claim consecutive bronze medals.
Also confirmed for the Barbados nationals are Olympians Mario Burke and Tristan Evelyn who are expected to contest the men’s and women’s 100m events respectively.
Burke, 27, has a personal best of 9.98 done back in 2019 and was an Olympian in Tokyo in 2021. In 2016, he took home 100m bronze at the World Junior Championships in Poland in 10.26. He has a season's best of 10.22 done at the Last Chance Sprint Series on June 7 in Sherman Oakes, California.
Hurdlers Tia-Adana Belle and Rasheeme Griffith are also among the big names, along with quarter miler Desean Boyce and former CARIFTA sprinters Julian Forde and Kishawna Niles.
Griffith, a senior at the University on Tennessee, established a new 400m hurdles national record of 48.79 in the heats at the SEC Championships on May 9.
CARIFTA Games gold medalist Layla Haynes and Hannah Connell as well as national javelin record holder Kayla Thorpe are also set to compete.
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