Shericka Jackson and Kishane Thompson will face stern tests in Hungary on Tuesday.
Gyulai István Memorial Instagram
Jamaican sprint champions Shericka Jackson and Kishane Thompson are set to race for the first time since their victories at the national championships, facing stiff competition as they fine-tune their preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Both athletes will compete at the prestigious Gyulai István Memorial in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, where they will encounter some of the world's top sprinters.
World 200m champion Shericka Jackson will face a formidable opponent in St Lucia's star athlete Julien Alfred, alongside Britain's European silver medallist Daryll Neita and fellow Jamaican Lanae-Tava Thomas. Jackson, who has dominated the 200m at this meeting for the past three years, is eager to defend her title. She set a meeting record of 21.96 seconds in 2021 and is coming off a recent season's best of 22.29 seconds, which earned her the Jamaican title.
Julien Alfred, the world indoor 60m champion, also has fond memories of Szekesfehervar, where she made her professional debut and achieved her first victory last year with a time of 10.89 seconds in the 100m. Alfred enters the race with the fastest time this year, having clocked 22.16 seconds indoors back in February. This highly anticipated clash between the two Caribbean sprint stars over the longer sprint distance promises to be a highlight of the meet.
Kishane Thompson, the fastest man in the world this year, will face South Africa's Akani Simbine and world silver medallist Letsile Tebogo. Thompson recently won the Jamaican title with a world-leading time of 9.77 seconds and is determined to maintain his top form as he heads into the Olympic season.
Simbine, a multiple world and Olympic finalist, has a strong track record in Szekesfehervar, having won the 100m in the Hungarian city on two previous occasions, setting South African records both times (9.89 seconds in 2016 and 9.84 seconds in 2021). The 30-year-old sprinter will be keen to notch up another victory, but he will face a stern challenge from Thompson, who is rapidly establishing himself as one of the top sprinters in the world.
Akani Simbine
World silver medallist Letsile Tebogo will also be a key contender, making this 100m race one of the most anticipated events of the meet.
Both Jackson and Thompson are using this meet as a crucial part of their preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. For Jackson, the race against Alfred, Neita, and Thomas will be a test of her current form and a chance to fine-tune her strategy against some of her potential Olympic rivals.
Thompson, on the other hand, will look to solidify his status as the world's fastest man this year by competing against top-tier sprinters like Simbine and Tebogo. A strong performance in Szekesfehervar will not only boost his confidence but also send a clear message to his competitors as the Olympics approach.
Jamaican sprint champions Shericka Jackson and Kishane Thompson are set to race for the first time since their victories at the national championships, facing stiff competition as they fine-tune their preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Both athletes will compete at the prestigious Gyulai István Memorial in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, where they will encounter some of the world's top sprinters.
Nickisha Pryce shatters records in sensational professional debut at London Diamond League
In an extraordinary professional debut, Jamaica's Nickisha Pryce stormed into the record books by winning the 400m at the London Diamond League meeting on Saturday. Less than a week before the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Pryce's phenomenal performance has placed her among the top 10 fastest women of all time over 400m.
Pryce's victory was not just any win—it was a record-breaking run that saw her clock a stunning 48.57, making her the seventh fastest woman ever in the event. This time eclipsed her previous national record of 48.89, which had broken Lorraine Fenton's two-decade-old Jamaican record of 49.30 and made her the first Jamaican woman to break the 49-second barrier.
Her impressive time of 48.57 also places her as the second fastest woman from the Caribbean, only behind Olympic gold medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas, who holds a personal best of 48.36. Additionally, Pryce's performance is the third-fastest time recorded in the last 39 years, trailing only Bahrain's Salwa Eid Naser's 48.14 and Miller-Uibo's 48.36, both set at the 2019 World Championships.
Moreover, Pryce's time surpasses the American record of 48.70 set by Sanya Richards-Ross in September 2006, making her the fastest Jamaican-born woman in the 400m.
Reflecting on her remarkable achievement, Pryce took to Instagram to express her gratitude and joy, writing: "Only two words: GOD DID. My professional debut marked another successful milestone in my career. It was always a dream to showcase my talent in such a prestigious atmosphere and I am utmost grateful for the opportunity. 48.57✅."
Pryce's incredible run comes shortly after she signed with Puma, following her final collegiate competition at the NCAA National Division One Championships, where she set the collegiate record and University of Arkansas all-time best with her previous national record of 48.89.
As Pryce prepares for the Paris Olympics, her record-breaking debut has not only established her as a formidable contender but also sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting Olympic campaign.
Jereem Richards delighted with lifetime best in 400m at London Diamond League as Olympic draw near
Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards expressed his elation after achieving a lifetime best in the 400m, clocking an impressive 44.18 to secure third place at the London Diamond League meeting on Saturday. This stellar performance comes less than a week before the start of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, boosting Richards' confidence ahead of the prestigious event.
Richards' time of 44.18 eclipsed his previous best of 44.54, which he set in San Salvador in July 2023. The race was a high-calibre showdown, won by Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith, who delivered a sensational lifetime best of 43.74. Hudson-Smith's time not only set meet and European records but also marked the fastest time in the world heading into the Olympics. The USA’s Vernon Norwood finished second with a personal best of 44.10, making it a race of outstanding performances.
Reflecting on his achievement, Richards shared his excitement and gratitude. "It feels great, I did not even know I was running that fast. I just wanted to go out and try and finish. I was running blind and it was difficult, but all praise and thanks to God. Without Him, this would not be possible," Richards said.
He added, "This stadium has always been magic for me. This is where I got my two world medals and the beginning of my career, I felt the magic again today. This race was really important, it meant a lot and to come away with a huge PB. I am going to celebrate today, but not get too overexcited and just enjoy the moment.”
Richards' performance at the London Diamond League signifies his readiness for the Paris Olympics, where he aims to capitalize on his current form. With his personal best and an acute sense of optimism, Richards heads to Paris with momentum and determination. His latest accomplishment has not only bolstered his spirits but also positioned him as a formidable contender in the upcoming Olympic Games.
CAS Panel extends deadline for decision on Nayoka Clunis' Olympic inclusion dispute
The Court of Arbitration for Sport's (CAS) Ad hoc panel has extended the deadline to Monday, July 22, 2024, to deliver a decision on the dispute between Jamaica's hammer thrower Nayoka Clunis and the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA). The decision follows a hearing held on Saturday, where key legal representatives presented their arguments.
Dr. Emir Crowne and Sayeed Bernard represented Clunis, while Ben Cisneros appeared for the JAAA, Ian Wilkinson (KC) for the Jamaica Olympic Association, Catherine Pitre for World Athletics, and Antonio Rigozzi for the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Clunis, who secured her spot for the Paris Olympics with a national record throw of 71.93m in May, was initially selected by the JAAA to represent Jamaica in the hammer throw. However, an administrative oversight led to her name not being submitted to World Athletics, jeopardizing her Olympic participation. In response, Clunis sought a ruling from the CAS Ad hoc Division to ensure her inclusion in the hammer throw competition.
The panel of arbitrators, led by Honourable Annabelle Bennett QC, SC of Australia as President, along with Ms. Carline Dupeyron of France and Ms. Kristen Thorness Oly of the USA, initially aimed to announce their decision on Sunday, July 21. However, the complexity of the case necessitated an extension to Monday.
Clunis' appeal highlights the urgency of the situation, particularly given the lack of timely communication from the JAAA. After receiving no response from the JAAA by a specified deadline, Clunis instructed her legal team to escalate the matter to CAS. The JAAA was subsequently given until 11 a.m. on Friday, July 19, to file materials, a deadline they reportedly did not meet.
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