Athletics

The 25-year-old former Arkansas Razorback most recently competed at the Edwin Moses Legends Meet at Morehouse College in Atlanta on May 31 where she won the women’s 800m in 1:59.31, her fastest outdoor time of the season.

“I think I’m where I need to be,” Maloney said in an interview with Trackalerts after her race.

“Not happy with it but it could’ve been worse,” she said about her time.

“I finished healthy and ran faster than I did two weeks ago so I’m taking the positives and moving on,” she added.

This summer will be Maloney’s second experience at the Olympic Games. She failed to advance from the heats at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

She hopes to go two-rounds further in Paris.

“The goal is always Paris so when I get there I’ll take it one round at a time. Hopefully, I make the final. That’s the plan so we’ll see what happens,” she said adding that once she executes properly, anything is possible.

“I think everybody that goes to the Olympics wants a medal, that’s one of the things on my mind. The most important thing is to focus on practice and competition. When you focus on executing your races everything else will fall in place,” she added.

A video of the fastest mommy on the planet decimating other mommies in a dash went viral and was eventually published on global online platforms including the BBC, Sky Sports and Sportsbible.

But why would a woman considered the best 100m female sprinter of all time, risk possible injury by competing in an inconsequential event even as she prepares to win a record-extending sixth 100m world title in Budapest in five months?

She explained that after watching her son and husband fall short, she was ‘overwhelmed’ by competitive spirit that helped propel her to two Olympic 100m gold medals, a record five world titles and to becoming the second-fastest woman alive.

 “I feel like I have been waiting all my life for this moment,” she joked on Sunday in a post on Instagram that included a video that chronicled the events of last Friday.

“I initially had no intention of running in the parents’ race – even my coach advised me not to run but my teammates weren’t doing so hot.

“Zyon ran his first race and fell, He tried again and got bronze in the obstacle race. So, I sent Jason (her husband) to handle business and bring home gold in the male parent race, but that didn’t go so well either.”

It was against that background that she decided to step in and right the wrongs.

“And, as an Olympian,” she continued, “it just didn’t make sense for us to leave without bringing home a single piece of gold, so I decided to race.

“We ended up getting two bronze medals…a participation medal and a first-place medal in the women’s parent race to redeem the Pryce’s family name. All in all, I’m so proud of my son and happy enjoyed sports day.”

The stage was set at the National Stadium in Kingston on Wednesday night for the Class One boys 100m final where Kingston College star Bouwahjgie Nkrumie was aiming to secure his first gold medal since moving up to class one two years ago.

Not only was he expected to easily win the race, he was expected to become the first Jamaican Under-20 athlete to break the 10-second barrier.

After coasting to 10.51 to win his heat on Tuesday, the World Under-20 silver medallist heightened the expectations of the many watching on at the Stadium and at home when he sped to 10.08 in the semi-finals, breaking the record set in 2014 by Zharnel Hughes.

Then, with everyone’s eyes glued to the Stadium track, Nkrumie did it. He produced a special 9.99, breaking his own national junior record 10.02, and becoming only the third Under-20 athlete to break 10 seconds.

The other two are Botswanan Letsile Tebogo who ran 9.91 to defeat Nkrumie at the World Under-20 Championships last year and American Trayvon Bromell who ran 9.97 in 2014.

That time also makes Nkrumie the current world leader in the event.

“I can’t explain the feeling right now. I can tell you, now, it was not easy to do. It will only get better from here,” Nkrumie said after the race.

“Felt good throughout the rounds but I wasn’t pleased with the execution in the final again. That’s what affected me last year but I promise you I will get it together at the right time,” he added.

As previously stated, this was Nkrumie’s third 100m final since making the transition to Class One in 2021.

That year, Nkrumie took bronze while, in 2022, his finished sixth after stumbling out of his blocks.

He reacted to finally claiming that elusive gold medal.

“The journey has been rough to be honest but if only some athletes in high school had the mindset that I have, they’d be so fantastic but, as I said, I’m happy to achieve this time and it’s only going to get better from here,” Nkrumie said.

As for what comes next for the three-time Kingston College team captain, he says wait and see.

“Let’s see. The season is long. With the way my coach planned out this season, you will definitely see me run faster down the line.”

Osbourne was hired in July following Thompson-Herah’s poor performance at the Jamaica national championships where she finished fifth in the 100m finals in 11.06s. The coach’s impact was almost immediate with the five-time Olympic gold medalist producing five consecutive season-bests – 11.00, 10.92, 10.84 and 10.79 for a third-place finish in the season-ending Diamond League final in Eugene, Oregon.

Things seemed to be going well up late September or early October when negotiations began for a new longer-term arrangement between Thompson-Herah and the coach, who helped her resurrect her 2023 season.

However, on Wednesday, Thompson-Herah’s agents Andi Sports Management released a statement informing about the end of the relationship between the athlete and Coach Osbourne.

“The professional separation came about due to a breakdown in negotiations on a compensation package for the services that would be provided by Coach Osbourne,” the agent asserted in the statement. “The package proposed by the former coach, by any measure of what is the norm for such services, was extremely excessive and without any flexibility to negotiate by the other party. Collectively, we had no choice but to seek the services of another coach.”

“What Marvin (Andi Sports Management) put out saying we gave them no room to negotiate is a big lie!” said Osbourne, who spoke with Sportsmax.TV.

Osbourne revealed that the problem started when Thompson-Herah’s husband sent her what she described as a ‘garbage contract’, which she rejected. Elaine then reached out to her in a series of messages and voice notes after which they agreed to sit down for a meeting.

"At the end of her message for a meeting, I said to her, I've read her messages and asked her what time would be available for the meeting, and so I'll meet with her." During the meeting, Osbourne brought up the 15 per cent, and Thompson-Herah did not express an inability to afford it.

“I approached her with the same 15 per cent. She did not say she cannot afford the 15 per cent. She said to me, ‘Okay, since I have all my equipment, I have a gym, I have my equipment and everything, do I still have to say for the 15 percent?’”

“I remember her standing up and she said to me, ‘Okay, you said 15 per cent and that's it.’ And I said yes, that's it and she said ‘okay’ and the meeting finished.

Osbourne said she came away from the meeting with the understanding that Thompson-Herah was agreeing with what she was asking. However, just over a week later, the athlete’s husband Derron Herah contacted her.

“I thought everything was okay, Deron messaged me saying we need to sort this out,’ which she said left her perplexed. “I asked him what we needed to sort out and he said we need to sort out payment.

“He asked for a meeting and we met and he came with the same sort of foolishness and I maintained my 15 per cent. I am not charging more than that.”

 During the meeting, Deron Herah repeatedly asked her to provide a figure. "All he's saying to me right is give me a figure. Give me a figure that I’m comfortable with. He can’t make those kinds of contracts with a percentage on it because that will cause them to breach their contract with PUMA.”

She expressed frustration, stating that she didn't need to know the details of Elaine’s contract, only that a fair and honest calculation of her percentage be made.

“I am just asking for a percentage. I explained to them, I do not need to know Elaine’s contract, that is not my concern. What I want is when pay time comes and I go in my account I must see that I get paid. I am not going to sit down and calculate anything.

“All I said to him and I said it to Elaine too, is just be fair, calculate the percentage and pay me, that’s all.”

During the national championships in July, it was an acquaintance of the Herahs, Damia Russell, who approached Osbourne about coaching Elaine as he was disappointed with her performance at the national championships. Given the impasse, he attempted to mediate.

Russell, is an assistant track and field coach at the University of New Mexico Highlands and was once a compliance officer at MVP Track Club during 2017-2018 season and for seven years’ prior, was the manager of the University of Technology Men and Women Track and Field teams.

“He normally guides Elaine, he went and spoke to the husband and then he took me to him,” Osbourne said explaining that she decided to leave the negotiations to him to see if they could arrive be a mutually acceptable agreement.

Russell, Osbourne disclosed, said he would assist and even suggested that since the Herahs were fearful of breaching the terms of Elaine’s contract, they could simply have Osbourne sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Russell declined to comment without first speaking to Osbourne when Sportsmax.TV reached out to him on Thursday.

According to Osbourne, Russell spoke with Deron and listened to his concerns and then decided to send Elaine’s husband a figure. “He said to me, what he is going to do is do a calculation of what he believes he would negotiate for Elaine. He did that and sent the figure to him and Deron started to curse and said they were trying to extort him.”

She said she didn’t expect Herah’s reaction. “You ask for a figure and you get a figure, you negotiate, you don’t cuss and quarrel and talk about extortion. So you come and we say ‘X’ and you can’t pay ‘X’ then you pay ‘X’-1, that’s how it should go.”

The coach then discussed her decision to withdraw her services temporarily, stating, "I sent a message to Elaine and said,’ Listen, I have to withdraw my service until this is sorted out."

As it turns out, the athlete and her management decided to end the relationship.

The eight-time Olympic medalist spoke during an interview at the Edwin Moses Legends Meet held at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Saturday.

“It is important to me to mentor not only Jamaican track & field but females in general because, growing up, I had a lot of influential women there to support and inspire me,” she said.

“Inspiring others is one of the things that I’m passionate about because I know that a lot it’s not just about your talent or how good you are, it’s about how mentally tough and resilient you are to go towards your goals and get over the hurdles and obstacles that are in your way,” Campbell-Brown added.

Most of her motivational work is done through her foundation, Veronica Campbell-Brown Foundation.

“I’m very interested in motivating and I’m always doing that. I motivate girls through my foundation and every chance I get, I try to inspire and uplift girls and women to achieve their goals no matter the obstacles they face,” she said.

Campbell-Brown also offered her opinion on the rise of women’s sports in general.

“It’s continuing to rise and get more respect and attention which is great. It takes the entire world to come behind all of us and just motivate, push and support us because as women we have to work extra hard to achieve what we want and to break down the glass ceiling,” she stated.

The 42-year-old is the second of three women in history to win consecutive Olympic 200m titles and is also one of only nine athletes to win world championships at the youth, junior, and senior levels.

She boasts personal bests of 10.76 seconds in the 100m and 21.74 seconds in the 200m.

Campbell-Brown was the 100m gold medalist at the 2007 World Championships and the 200m gold medalist at the 2011 World Championships.

Throughout her illustrious career, she has also secured seven silver medals and one bronze medal at the World Championships.

She is also a two-time World Indoor champion over 60m.

Founded by former World record holder in both the 200m and 400m, Michael Johnson, the four-slam series will see some of the world’s best athletes competing against each other consistently, something fans of the sport of track and field have only come to expect every four years at the Olympic Games.

So far, only two of the four host cities for 2025’s inaugural season have been announced, Los Angeles and Kingston.

On Monday, it was announced that Jamaica’s National Stadium will host the first ever Grand Slam event from April 4-6 next year.

Johnson, as well as members of the Grand Slam Track team, was on hand at a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Monday to offer more insight on why Kingston has been chosen as the first city.

“We’ve all watched the incredible success of Jamaican racers and we want to shine a light on that greatness as a top destination for major sporting events,” Johnson said.

“Jamaican athletes have represented this country in an amazing way around the globe for years and it’s time to come back here and highlight the country for its excellence in the sport of track,” he added.

He went further: “Jamaica has truly earned its place as one of the pre-eminent track and field countries in the world. This country has punched far above its weight on the global stage when it comes to track so, for us, it’s only fitting that we progress on track with a new professional series that has immediately catapulted itself to the top of our sport,” he said.

“It’s only fitting that we honour that excellence in track that Jamaica has always represented and continues to represent,” Johnson added.

The four-time Olympic champion also reminisced on his first time competing in Jamaica, joking with the crowd that it might show his age.

“I ran at the National Stadium back in 1989 and 1990 at the Mutual Life Games. That was the first time I ever left the USA. I came here to compete and I’ve been inspired ever since as the sprint capital of the world,” Johnson said.

The other two host cities will be announced later this week.

The 31-year-old lined up in the 100m at the fifth meet on this season’s Diamond League calendar and had a race to forget, running 11.30 for a ninth-place finish as hometown hero Sha’Carri Richardson sped away to a season’s best 10.83 for victory.

“Definitely not what I expected today but grateful,” Thompson-Herah said after the race on Instagram.

“Journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step,” she added.

Thompson-Herah, who is now being coached by Reynaldo Walcott at Elite Performance Track Club, is looking to rediscover the form that led her to Olympic glory in 2016 and 2021.

She endured an injury-riddled 2023 season that saw her fail to make the team for any individual event at the World Championships in Budapest. She did leave those championships with a silver medal, however, as part of the 4x100m quartet.

Thompson-Herah had much better returns in the second half of the 2023 season.

She ran times of 10.92 and 10.84 on September 4 and 8 to win at the Gala dei Castelli and the Brussels Diamond League, respectively, before closing out her season with 10.79 for third at the Prefontaine Classic on September 16.

Jackson opened her season in the half lap event on May 19 at the Marrakech Diamond League with 22.82 to win before running 22.97 for fifth in Oslo two days ago.

“I would say it’s an okay year, so far. Have not run my best 200m yet but I’ve been working. I just need to put a good 200m together before the Jamaica trials. Hopefully, I can do that tomorrow,” she said at the pre-meet press conference on Saturday.

Jackson says that her focus is also on getting in good enough shape to get through the Jamaica trials set for June 27-30.

“Once I compete at the trials then everything afterwards matters. Once I get through that, we’ll take it from there,” she said.

Her apparent lack of competition sharpness is coming from running less races up to this point this season than she did last year.

“I think last year I was running a lot more and this year I’ve only run two races, so far. I’m trying to put the pieces together and coach and I have been working so I’m definitely hoping for a better race tomorrow than in Oslo,” she added.

The 29-year-old has no specific time in mind for tomorrow, with her only objective being to execute a good 200m.

“I just want to execute a good 200m. Once I do that a season’s best is possible,” she said.

Jackson’s comments came after opening her 2023 outdoor season with a 53.11 effort to win the 400m ahead of GC Foster College’s Odeisha Nation (55.37) and Christine Cheka (55.78) at the Queen's/Grace Jackson meet at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.

“For me there’s no pressure. I believe my coach and I did a very good job last year and all we have to do now is stay focused, not on other people’s expectations but his and my expectations. Once I’m healthy, I will definitely go super-fast,” Jackson said.

Jackson is coming off a phenomenal 2022 season. At the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, she sped to a personal best of 21.45 to win gold in the 200m, becoming the fastest woman alive in the process.

In addition to her 200m crown, Jackson ran a personal best 10.73 to secure second in the 100m behind teammate Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Prior to last season, Jackson said that one of her goals was to run 10.6 in the 100m, and, according to her, that has not changed.

“Last year I wanted to run 10.6 and I didn’t do that. To finish last year as the sixth-fastest ever and not run 10.6 is a great feeling. I think I have a lot more in the tank for the 100m so I just have to focus on execution and fast times will come,” she said.

Last season, Jackson also made waves on the indoor circuit, finishing sixth at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade in a personal best 7.04.

On February 4, she will compete in the event at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston.

“Last year the 60m helped me improve my start. I ran 7.04 and this year I’m hoping I can go faster,” she said.

The field will be a loaded one, including 400m hurdles World and Olympic Champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, World Indoor 60m silver medalist Mikiah Briscoe and World Championship 100m finalist Aleia Hobbs.

“It’s a good field competing so my focus is executing a good 60m,” Jackson said.

The 36-year-old, who won back-to-back 100m gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, made the declaration in an interview with NBC Sports.

“Yes, 2024 will definitely be my last Olympics,” said Fraser-Pryce before going into how her foundation will become her priority once she exits the track.

“As I chase world championship and Olympic glory, the legacy that I leave off the track is important and my Pocket Rocket Foundation has been near and dear to me. We’ve been trying to expand on what we do here in Jamaica and hopefully go regional. Being able to run fast and win medals is great, but using that platform to give young people the chance to succeed and balance education with sports and transcend their own thoughts and ideas is what I’m passionate about as well,” she added.

By the time the Paris Olympics roll around, Fraser-Pryce will be 37 and aiming to become the oldest Olympic 100m gold medallist ever, male or female.

“I definitely want 2024 to be my last hurrah. I’ve accomplished so much, and I’m so, so grateful for it all. All the people that I’ve been able to touch, all the memories that I’ve made. After the Olympics I want to make different memories,” she said.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are scheduled for July 26-August 24 with Track & Field scheduled for August 1-11.

The Invitational was launched in 2004 and has seen several global stars put on a show at Jamaica’s National Stadium over the years. Some of the standout performances at the meet over the years include Usain Bolt’s 9.76 in the 100m in May 2008 and his 19.56 in the 200m two years later.

On the Women’s side, Sanya Richards-Ross ran 49.89 to win the 400m in 2006 while Elaine Thompson-Herah won the 200m in 22.09 nine years later.

Unfortunately, the meet was last held in 2018 with the 2019 to 2022 editions all being cancelled due to a myriad of reasons ranging from lack of sponsorship to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Well, I know that event may have seen better days but we at the JAAA are looking at the possibility of how it is that we can bring in another event,” Gayle told SportsMax.TV at the launch of the Racers Grand Prix at the Jamaica Pegasus on Tuesday.

“The Racers Grand Prix is excellent, without a doubt, and it must and will be supported by the association but we believe our athletes need at least one more high-level meet here in Jamaica,” Gayle added.

Gayle then announced that discussions are ongoing regarding the future of the meet and the possible announcement of a replacement.

“There would have been the need to revisit and that is what is happening as we speak and, in short order, you will hear more about a similar meet, but not that meet,” Gayle said.

While Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association President Garth Gayle admits there is nothing the administration can do to prevent this, he is urging athletes to think about life after track & field when making these decisions.

“I’ve always said education is the means by which any individual will be able to make good in years to come,” Gayle told SportsMax.TV.

“So, these are young athletes that are doing exceptionally well in their chosen disciplines within track and field. We believe that it is best for them to reach a particular age or at least a level of experience because getting into the senior elite program is not easy. There is some level of protection within the schools or within the education system and I believe they should relish and seek to benefit from that rather than to be making the rush too early,” Gayle added.

He did point out, however, that there are some clubs out there that prioritize athletes’ education while giving them an opportunity to compete professionally.

“There are programs and clubs that allow for these junior athletes to be properly prepared and taken care of, including their education. Usain Bolt when he made the move from William Knibb into the High-Performance Centre and continued his education as well because there was that support base and he was able to earn very well,” he said.

Gayle, who is also principal of the Charlemont High School, then had a message for young athletes in all sports, not just track and field.

“Those that are making this transition, remember your education because there is life after your chosen sport. It happens in all the various sports. As an educator myself, I believe the more you can be protected and get the necessary guidance, it will allow an athlete to stay with the sport a lot longer,” he said.

“There will come hiccups and when they come, and you don’t have that support base, Jamaicans are hard task masters. We demand a lot from our sportsmen and women, more so in track and field. It is on that basis that I would want to be cautious but we can’t stop it. We would want to provide as much encouragement and guidance towards one’s development through education,” Gayle said.

Up to last month, the women’s team of Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian and brake woman Audra Segree were favoured to be listed among the automatic qualifiers for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, among the world’s top 12 teams.  By the time January rolled around, however, a conflation of unfortunate circumstances had changed things entirely.  According to Silver, things began to go wrong from the perspective of the team at Latvia's Sigulda World Series where there was a Covid-19 outbreak.

“We did everything we could.  We missed out because of the weather and believe it or not Covid,” Silver explained.

How it works is there are races across the world, after Christmas, the first race was in Latvia, and unfortunately, 7 athletes couldn’t race, which meant that athletes that would have finished lower down finished higher and received points that they wouldn’t have if the race was full of athletes,” he added. 

“In another race, a massive amount of snow meant that athletes who raced later benefited from the snow being clear.  Now, with the snow it's part of the sport, we expect that.”

In the final standing, the team finished tied with France for the final spot but were edge out via the tiebreak.  The team could still qualify for the Games if France or any of the other 10 teams above them Germany, Canada, United States, China, ROC, Switzerland, Romania, Austria, Great Britain, Australia, or Belgium are unable to take part in the event.

“With Covid, the girls finished third overall on the NAC, and before Christmas, I would have said I was confident and with the press release, had it been what we had expected and predicted they were probably our safest option,” he added 

“However, things that changed but that’s sports.  For each bad thing that goes against you sometimes we get good things and fingers crossed we were bang on points, and who knows maybe this time around luck will go with us.  Hopefully not at the expense of anyone else but hopefully the girls will get to live their dreams as well because they worked so hard.”

The Championships, scheduled for May 4-27, will see competition among 130 schools with 6000 students in three regional championships leading up to the grand finale, the national championships.

“Today marks the start of what we have come to regard as our marquee sports event in Jamaica for juniors,” said Minister of Gender, Culture, Education and Sport, the Hon. Olivia “Babsy” Grange.

The Eastern Championships got underway on Thursday at Stadium East and will last until May 6.

The competition then moves to the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport for the Central Championships from May 8-10.

From there, the competition moves to St. Elizabeth Technical High School for the Western Championships between May 11 and May 13.

The National Championships, expected to showcase the best of the best in terms of Primary School athletics in the country, takes place from May 25-27 to decide the All-Island champion.

“It will be thrilling to see the youngsters out there competing. They look forward to it and are excited about it and we know we are looking at future world champions,” said Grange.

Devon Biscuits, who came on board as a major sponsor last year, will serve as title sponsors in 2023 and have committed $9 million to INSPORTS.

“We are happy to be on board,” said Brand Manager for Devon Biscuits, Sherene Bryan.

“We recognize the importance of encouraging, supporting and fostering Jamaica’s talent,” Bryan added before going into how Devon Biscuits came on board in 2022.

“We were made aware of the Championships two days before the meet began. I saw a social media post which was made by my dear friend, Trishana McGowan, and I reached out to her to ask if they had a sponsor. She then advised me that there was no sponsor on board. I then called her and requested the information for the directors of Insports and she provided it that opened the door for further conversations and now we’re here as the title sponsors.”

First Vice President of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association, the Hon. Ian Forbes, spoke on behalf of the association.

“41 years means that something right would have been happening. This is where the seeds of greatness are sewn,” Forbes said.

Recently, however, the country has seen its success at the global level spread to many other disciplines in the sport such as the jumps and the throws.

President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Garth Gayle, is encouraged by this trend and hopes to see it continue.

“This all came about under the leadership of the late Howard Aris,” Gayle told SportsMax.TV at the launch of the Racers Grand Prix at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday.

“I was the honorary secretary at the time and I remember several of our executive meetings where he made it clear to all of us, in such simple terms, that there will come the day when other countries will challenge us successfully in the sprints,” Gayle said.

“He went on to say that sprinting is a base for many other disciplines in track and field and that we need to start to venture and provide training grounds for coaches and competitions for the athletes in the different disciplines. That is why we have seen the improvement in the throws and in the jumps. I believe it has done us well,” Gayle added.

Over a short period of time, Jamaica has seen the emergence of the likes of Tajay Gayle, Shanieka Ricketts and, more recently, Jaydon Hibbert among others in the jumps as well as names like Fedrick Dacres and Danniel Thomas-Dodd in the throws.

Gayle became Jamaica’s first ever long jump World Champion when he jumped a National Record 8.69m, the 20^th longest jump in history, to win gold at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.

Ricketts is a two-time World Championship silver medallist in the triple jump from Doha in 2019 and Eugene in 2022.

Jaydon Hibbert, who is only 18, won triple jump gold at the World Under-20 Championships in Cali in 2022 and, earlier this season, set a World Junior Record 17.54m to win at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Albuquerque.

We also saw the likes of Carey McLeod and Ackelia Smith win long jump medals at those same NCAA Indoor Championships.

Lamara Distin is undefeated this season in the high jump and broke her own National record earlier this season while, at last year’s World Under-20 Championships, another Jamaican, Brandon Pottinger, took home high jump gold.

In the throws, Dacres and Thomas-Dodd won silver medals in the discus and shot put, respectively, at the 2019 World Championships in Doha.

Gayle also outlined that clubs around the country have systems in place to ensure this trend continues.

“Our club systems are growing stronger and they too are of that similar mindset and we are seeing the benefits. GC Foster College must never be left out of the equation because they, in a similar way, are speaking that language.”

“We must continue to raise the bar. Jamaica has, without doubt, an abundance of sporting talent. We just need to continue to harness it and develop it,” he added.

KC amassed an impressive 366 points, comfortably ahead of rivals Jamaica College (299 points) and Calabar High (207 points) in second and third.

On Monday, the school, celebrating their 98^th year of existence, held a ceremony commemorate the historic achievement at their North Street home.

“Never bet against KC,” said Principal Dave Myrie at Monday’s celebration.

“When it comes to these championships, KC’s going to dig deep and we are going to fight. Our motto says ‘The Brave May Fall but Never Yield’ so we’re not going to yield to anybody. When we get out there on the field of play, we are going out there to win. If a better man beats us and wins, we’ll say well done but we are going to continue cheering and supporting our team, win, lose or draw,” he added.

“Elated,” was Head Coach Leaford Grant’s response when asked to describe his emotions after guiding the team to the title.

“Personally, I am elated. We are happy and couldn’t ask for anything else. It has been a challenging year for us but we managed to persevere and now we are champions again,” Grant said.

“We never set out to plan how many points we’re going to score. What we try to do every year is put together a team that we know can score over 300 points. At champs, you have mishaps and different mistakes but that’s something you have to plan around. This year, we made very few mistakes.” he added.

With all that said, the school also had their challenges in the months leading up to champs, as explained by Grant and Myrie.

“Some of the challenges were, like any other school, financial. We had some challenges with youngsters not coming to training as we expected but I think that goes on at every single school, not only KC. At the end of the day, we withstood those challenges,” said Grant.

“Some of our athletes have had challenges, whether it be injuries or stuff like that,” Myrie said.

“We had to be gingerly treating them as we go through. They couldn’t train as hard as they wanted but we had to nurse them through. We got vilified because we opted out of a few races at the Gibson Relays and we just shook our heads. You opt out to ensure that you can actually do what you need to do at Champs because, at the end of the day, Champs is where the points count,” Myrie added.

Distance runner Ainsley Campbell was one of the main contributors to KC’s 34^th Boys champs crown, winning the Class 1 1500m as well as the 2000m steeplechase open.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that we got the job done and we didn’t waste an entire year of training,” Campbell said.

“I wasn’t expecting to participate in the 1500m until Carifta Trials but I can say it was a well-earned title. For the steeplechase, I was the favourite so I went out there and did what I had to do,” he added.

Myrie says plans are already in place for KC to continue their dominance in high school track & field for years to come.

“There is definitely a plan in place but, the same way we are planning, other schools are planning as well. I am not going to go out there and say to anybody that we have to win or are going to win, I’m saying we are going to put a team in place that can challenge,” he said.

“If by chance there is a better team out there that beats us then more power to them and I’d congratulate them and say well done but we’re focusing on KC. We don’t focus on too many things outside. We have already started the planning for the next three years down the road to make sure that, at the least, we’re putting out a competent team every year,” Myrie added.

She is now the proud mother of a new baby boy!

Miller-Uibo and her husband, Estonian decathlete Maicel Uibo, made the announcement of the birth of their son in a joint Instagram post on Tuesday.

“Welcome to the world Maicel Uibo Jr,” the post said.

Miller-Uibo gave birth on April 20^th.

The Bahamian, set to miss this track & field season, enjoyed a phenomenal 2022 season which saw her win nine out of 10 400m races, including claiming her maiden World Championship title in Eugene in July as well as gold at the NACAC Championships in Nassau in August.

The 35-year-old Jamaican ran a meet record of 10.62 for victory but Shericka Jackson ran a lifetime best of 10.71 to take the runner-up spot just ahead of Marie Jose Ta Lou, who ran a personal best and area record 10.72 for third.

Aleia Hobbs of the United States equalled her season-best 10.81 for fourth.

This was the record-extending sixth consecutive final in which the diminutive Jamaican has run faster than 10.70 seconds and the two-time Olympic champion was quite pleased with the performance but hinted that she is planning to take a break after what has been an intense schedule.

“I had now three back-to-back races so I will take some time for recovery and see what I´m able to do with some rest before I come back,” she said.

“I did what I needed to do and we had fun and let the clock do the talking. I cannot be disappointed with the season. To be able to run 10.6 consistently means a lot to me. It is remarkable. It is very hard to keep the speed at this high level.

“I´m in my late 30’s and I think I feel like I have more to give. I look forward to doing my personal best for the rest of the season and run fast.”

The Jamaican speed-queen was not the only Caribbean winner at the meet on the night as Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas raced to a fast 49.28 to win the 400m in commanding fashion over Candice McLeod who ran a season-best 49.89, her first time under 50 seconds for the season. Finishing third was Commonwealth Games champion Sada Williams, who ran 51.10.

Commonwealth Games finalist Rushell Clayton ran a brand new lifetime best of 53.33 to win the 400m hurdles to defeat Commonwealth Games champion Janieve Russell, who ran a season-best 53.52.

Panama’s Gianna Woodruff was third in 54.13.

Natoya Goule rebounded from the disappointment of just missing out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games to run a season-best 1:56.98.

Goule won by five metres ahead Sage Hurta ran a new personal best of 1:57.85. Her compatriot Olivia Baker was third in a season-best 1:58:05.

“I feel extremely proud because I finally dropped the time under 57. I knew it was in me…this is really the track where you can run fast but I am just thankful for the win and the season best,” said Goule who missed out on a medal by 0.01 at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

“I just wanted to ensure I ran a smart race because it was getting fast. I am glad that I finished strong because sometimes when you run 56, you do not have the kick but I still got it today. I was so happy when I crossed the line and saw the time. It would be nice to get a PR this season. I know it is a bit challenging but I take it step by step.”

Hansle Parchment, still recovering from the injury that kept him out of the finals of the 110m hurdles at the 2022 World Championships and the Commonwealth Games ran a season-best 13.08 but finished third to Grant Holloway, who ran a 12.99 season-best for the win.

NCAA champion Trey Cunningham ran 13.03 for second place.

In the field, Shanieka Ricketts jumped 14.91, her second-best mark of the season to be runner-up to Olympic and World Champion Yulimar Rojas, who needed a mark of 15.01 to take the win.

The USA’s Tori Franklin jumped a lifetime best of 14.86 for third place.

Noah Lyles of the USA raced to a meet record 19.46 to win the 200m leaving teen sensation Erriyon Knighton 19.84 and Michael Norman 19.95 floundering in his wake.

Williams, 19, who set a new national U20 record of 11.01 on Sunday, clocked a new personal best of 10.98, despite a poor start to record her second win in as many days.

Mikiah Brisco finished second in 11.09 with Dezerea Bryant finishing third in 11.14.

Williams had given a hint of what to expect in the preliminary round when she ran 10.97 to win her heat. However, the trailing wind of 2.5m/s prevented that time from being recognized as the Jamaican national U20 record.

In the final, the wind was only 1.0 m/s well below the allowable limit of 2.0m/s.

Earlier, Yohan Blake was second in the 100m clocking 10.09s as he trailed the USA’s Ronnie Baker across the line. The American clocked 9.99.

Marvin Bracy-William was third in 10.11.

Williams wasn’t the only Jamaican with a new personal best Monday night, as promising sprint hurdler Britanny Anderson clocked 12.59 to win the 100m hurdles. It was almost a duplicate of the 12.58 lifetime best she ran in the preliminary round, except for the poor start in the final where she defeated Christina Clemons, who clocked 12.64 for second place narrowly edging 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams who ran 12.65 for third.

Earlier, Javon Francis won his 400m race in 45.84. Quintaveon Poole was second in 45.87 and Myles Pringle third in 46.11.

The BVI’s Ashley Kelly won her 400m in 54.86 over Belize’s Samantha Dirks 55.01 and Canada's Carline Muir 55.48.

Shamier Little won the 400m hurdles in a world-leading 53.12 beating Jamaica’s Ronda Whyte, who ran a season-best 54.33 for the runner-up spot. Her compatriot Shiann Salmon, also ran a personal best of 54.97 for third.

Nkrumie, the national junior record holder and World Under-20 silver medallist, got left in the blocks but recovered well to win his heat in 10.51 ahead of St. Jago’s Tajai Duffus (10.88) and St. Catherine high’s Sajay Campbell (10.91) who both also advanced to the semis.

JC’s Caymanian junior record holder Jaiden Reid, who ran a new personal best 10.25 earlier this season, also secured a spot in the semis with 10.52 to advance second fastest overall.

The third fastest to advance was Camperdown’s Junior Harris who looked impressive for his 10.56 in the preliminary round.

Herbert Morrison’s De Andre Daley (10.65), STETHS’s Javorn Dunkley (10.59), JC’s Hector Benjamin (10.67), Manchester’s Javoon Blair (10.93) and Steer Town Academy’s Tay-Shawn Barnes (10.60) were the other heat winners.

The Class Two qualifiers were led by KC’s Nicardo Clarke (10.95), Herbert Morrison’s Class Three champion from last year Tavaine Stewart (11.00) and Muschett’s Johan-Ramaldo Smythe (11.02).

Pre-meet favorite Tramaine Todd of STETHS ran 11.09 to win his heat and safely advance while Calabar’s Shaquane Gordon is also through after an 11.10 clocking in his heat. Other heat winners included Calabar’s Khamani Gordon (11.34), St. Jago’s Detarje Morgan (11.11) and JC’s Dontae Watson (11.34),

In Class Three, JC’s Malique Dennis looked impressive running 11.06 to advance fastest ahead of STETHS’s Rodeeki Walters (11.54) and KC’s Jonathan Clarke (11.55). Other heat winners included STETHS’s Shaun Lewis (11.56), Cornwall College’s Thomas Daley (11.71), St. Jago’s Rayj Reece (11.64), Calabar’s Byron Walker (11.82) and St. Jago’s Kevon McKenzie (11.93).

On the Girls side, medal favourites Serena Cole, Alana Reid and Alexis James are all safely through to the semi-finals after convincing heat wins.

Edwin Allen’s Cole, the 2022 World Under-20 100m silver medallist, ran 11.57 to advance fastest ahead of Petersfield’s James, and Hydel’s Reid who ran 11.74 and 11.81 to win their respective heats. Other heat winners included Edwin Allen’s Tonie-Ann Forbes (11.80) and St. Catherine high’s Kamaria Knight (11.89). James and Reid also got medals at the World Under-20 Championships last year. James was runner-up in the 100m hurdles while Reid won bronze in the 200m.

Hydel’s Shemonique Hazle advanced fastest in Class Two with 12.17 ahead of St. Catherine’s Kaycian Johnson (12.19) and Edwin Allen’s Doniella Lewis (12.20). Other heat winners included 2021 Class Three double sprint champion Lavanya Williams of William Knibb (12.30), Bridgeport’s Brittney McCormack (12.24), Holmwood’s Akhalia Collins (12.24), Edwin Allen’s Renecia Edwards (12.26) and holy Childhood’s Abigail Wolfe (12.26).

Edwin Allen’s Theianna-Lee Terrelonge qualified fastest in Class Three with 12.10 ahead of St. Jago’s Poshanna-Lee Blake (12.47) and Vere Technical’s Tiana Oliver (12.53). Other heat winners included Natrece East of Wolmer’s (12.53), Excelsior’s Tashika Thompson (13.03), Immaculate Conception’s Kedoya Lindo (12.76), St. Jago’s Adora Campbell (12.69) and Excelsior’s Paris Pomings (12.67).

Class Four qualifiers were led by Maria Baker of Holmwood Technical (12.47), Giana Murray of Mount Alvernia High (12.62) and Naje’ Brown of Immaculate (12.65).

Moving on to the 400m, the JC pair of Malique Smith Band and Mark Anthony Miller led all qualifiers to the semi-finals for Class One Boys with times of 48.34 and 48.40, respectively.

Edwin Allen’s 2022 World Under-20 finalist Delano Kennedy also easily made it through to the semis with a 48.61 effort, closely followed by the KC pair Emmanuel Rwotomiya (48.89) and Amal Glasgow (49.13) as well as Jasauna Dennis of STETHS (49.31).

In Class Two, Daniel Francis of Alphansus Davis High was the fastest through to the semi-finals with 49.84. JC’s Tyler Ferguson and Holmwood Technical’s Omarie Williamson were the only others to dip below 50 seconds in the heats with 49.87 and 49.92, respectively.

Other qualifiers to semis included KC’s Tahj-Marques White (50.04) who won silver in the same event last year and Calabar’s Nickecoy Bramwell (50.46), who won silver in the 100m and gold in the 200m in Class Three at last year’s championships.

The Class Three qualifiers were led by KC’s Jordan Rehedul (51.63), Maggotty High’s Akeem Honeyghan (51.70) and Ferncourt’s Jevari McKoy (51.84). The Calabar pair of Christopher Ellis (52.56) and Malik Gayle (53.32) also made it through.

On the girls’ side, 2022 Class Three champion Sabrina Dockery of Lacovia ran 55.29 to advance fastest in the Class Two 400m. Holmwood Technical’s Rosalee Gallimore (55.70) and Hydel’s Jody-Ann Daley (55.71) made up the rest of the top three through to the semis.

In Class Three, Hydel’s Nastassia Fletcher (56.29), Excelsior’s Breana Brown (56.84) and Muschett’s Shanoya Douglas (56.90) led the qualifiers to the semis.

The Class One girls will only run semi-finals and finals.

Edwin Allen’s Tonyan Beckford (57.90), Hydel’s Onieka McAnnuff (58.24) and Holmwood’s Annalice Brady (59.50) were the fastest qualifiers into the final of the Girls Open 400m hurdles.

The Class Two qualifiers were led by JC’s Deandre Gayle (53.13), Calabar’s Requel Reid (53.21) and KC’s Taj-Oneil Gordon (54.49) while Class One was led by Edwin Allen’s Tyrece Hyman (51.26), STETHS’s Shamer Blake (51.63) and KC’s Antonio Forbes (52.80).

KC’s Ethan Gioko and Ainsley Campbell led the qualifiers for the final of the Class One 1500m. JC will also have two in the final as Kemarrio Bygrave and Nellie Amberton also made it through. Campbell and Amberton also qualified for the final of the 2000m steeplechase later in the day.

KC also had the top two qualifiers in Class Two through their Kenyan duo Nahashon Ruto and Brian Kiprop while Class Three was led by Edwin Allen’s Moses Johnson and Calabar’s Carlos Brison-Caines.

Alphansus Davis’ Alikay Reynolds and Edwin Allen’s Kevongaye Fowler led the qualifiers for Class Three girls. The Class Two and One races will be straight finals.

In the field, JC’s Uroy Ryan led all qualifiers to the final of the Class One long jump with a 7.35m effort in his first round.

The qualifiers for the Class Two final were led by JC’s Michael-Andre Edwards with 7.13m.