Briana Williams

Romaine Beckford has emerged as a rising star within the track and field community, showcasing an impressive track record coupled with an unwavering determination to excel. The partnership with 7venz Media Agency signifies the agency's dedication to empowering athletes to reach their pinnacle.

Khimani Clarke, the CEO of 7venz Media Agency, expressed his enthusiasm about welcoming Romaine to their prestigious roster that also includes global championship medalists Danielle Williams, Wayne Pinnock, Hansle Parchment and Briana Williams.

 "Romaine's dedication, passion, and remarkable achievements embody the values we hold dear," said Clarke. "Our team is committed to providing tailored support, guidance, and expertise to help him soar to new heights, both on the track and in his personal brand."

The collaboration will see 7venz Media Agency working closely with Romaine to craft a comprehensive brand strategy, harnessing his unique story and accomplishments to create a lasting impact. The agency will also focus on securing partnerships and collaborations that align with Romaine's values and aspirations.

Excitement radiated from Romaine Beckford as he expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration. "I am excited to partner with 7venz Media Agency," Beckford shared. "Their passion, expertise, and commitment to athlete empowerment are a great look. I am confident that together, we will achieve great things and inspire others to do the same."

With Romaine Beckford on board, 7venz Media Agency continues to cement its status as a trailblazer in the sports marketing industry. Prioritizing athlete-centric values and innovative strategies, the agency is poised to redefine the landscape of sports brand development

Champs Sports, part of Foot Locker, Inc. is the brand's first iteration of its new Homefield concept and is the largest of any Foot Locker, Inc. subsidiary in the world at 35,000+ square feet.

The 20-year-old Williams was inducted in a ceremony held on April 23 along with four other honourees: Mark Montimurro, Roderick Rocky Gills, Tamara James, and posthumously, Jason Stein.

“It’s always a privilege and a blessing to be honoured by the community that helped to raise me,” said the Jamaican Olympic gold medallist.

“It's also the biggest Champs store in the country so I'm humbled to be one of the first names inducted.”

Montimurro is the Head Coach at Coral Springs Charter School Softball, "Rocky" Gillis is Athletic Director at Broward County Schools and James is a former WNBA player and Mayor of Dania Beach. Stein was the Athletic Director/Baseball Coach/Teacher at JP Taravella High School.

Running from lane two, the Jamaican quartet of Briana Williams, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shashalee Forbes and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 41.70s ahead of Great Britain 42.33 and Switzerland (42.64s).

Trinidad and Tobago’s quartet of Akilah Lewis, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas, who ran a blistering 9.66s on the third leg, and Leah Bertrand, placed fifth from lane eight in 42.85s.

Unfortunately, that was not good enough to progress as one of the non-automatic qualifiers on time. Those spots were taken by Netherlands (42.53s) and Poland (42.65s), who were fourth and fifth respectively in heat two.

That heat was expectedly won by United States, who progressed as the fastest qualifiers in 41.59s, ahead of Cote D’Ivoire, who achieved a new Area Record 41.90s and Italy, who finished in a National Record 42.14s.

The final will be contested tomorrow at 2:50pm Jamaica time.

Catch live action of the 2023 World Athletics Championships by downloading the Sportsmax app.

Turning 22 in March, Williams boasts an impressive athletic resume, including a gold medal as a vital member of Jamaica's 4x100m relay team at the Tokyo Olympics. Additionally, she clinched silver medals at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon 2022 and Budapest 2023 as a key contributor to Jamaica's formidable sprint squad.

Williams, who achieved the sprint double at the World U20 championships in Tampere, Finland, in 2018, expressed her excitement about the collaboration with 7venz Media Agency. "I'm elated to have such a talented and dedicated team supporting me. Their expertise and passion are unparalleled, and I'm confident that together, we'll achieve great things."

The media agency, known for its representation of World 100m hurdles champion Danielle Williams, warmly welcomed Briana to their esteemed roster. "Briana is an exceptional talent, and we're honored to be a part of her journey. Our team is committed to helping her build a strong brand and showcasing her unique talent to the world."

This strategic partnership marks a new chapter in Williams' flourishing career, providing her with the resources and expertise to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of sports and entertainment. As she continues to make waves on the track, fans can anticipate exciting developments and innovative projects in the coming months.

Kambudji’s time was the fastest time run in 23 years since Katerina Thanou ran a similar time in March 1999. Prior to Friday’s final, Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast was the fastest indoors with her time of 6.97 she ran in March 2018. The time also ties Jamaica's Merlene Ottey as the fourth-fastest all-time and bumped Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson Herah's shared time of 6.98 to ninth-best.

In what was a thrilling race to conclude the opening day of competition, the USA’s Mikiah Brisco claimed the silver medal in a lifetime best of 6.99 while her compatriot Mary-Beth Sant Price got third with 7.04.

Mere thousandths of a second separated the next four places as the gold-medal favourite, Ewa Swoboda of Poland, was fourth while Briana Williams and Shericka Jackson ran identical personal best times for fifth and sixth, respectively.

 Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago was seventh in a season-best 7.11 while Brazil's Vitoria Rosa ran 7.21 for eighth.

McLeod, who just missed a medal at last year’s World Athletic Championships in Budapest, cut the sand at a new season’s best 8.21m. He placed behind Greece’s World Champion Miltiadis Tentoglou and Italy’s Mattia Furlani, who both leapt to a mark of 8.22m.

Another Jamaican, Tajay Gayle was sixth at 7.89m, while LaQuan Nairn of the Bahamas was 15th at 7.59m.

McLeod's medal is Jamaica's second at the Championship, adding to Ackeem Blake's bronze won in the men's 60m final on Friday.

On the track, St Lucia’s in-form sprinter Julien Alfred, Bahamian Anthonique Strachan, Barbadian Tristan Evelyn, as well as Jamaicans Briana Williams and Shashalee Forbes, all progressed to the women’s 60m semi-finals, after contrasting performances in their respective heats.

Alfred, 22, comfortably won her heat in 7.02s and headlines the qualifiers, as Strachan (7.24s), Williams (7.22s) and Forbes (7.17s), all placed second in their heats, while Evelyn (7.17s) was third in heat four.

Beyonce Defreitas (7.44s) of British Virgin Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye, despite a season’s best 7.26s, failed to progress, as both placed fifth in their heats.

The women’s 60m semi-final and final is scheduled for Saturday’s evening session.

Elsewhere on the track, Jamaica’s Damion Thomas and Tyler Mason, both failed to progress in the men’s 60m hurdles, after both placed sixth in their respective heats in 7.73s and 7.86s.

Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin also missed out on a spot in the women’s 800m final, following a sixth-place finish in her semi-final race. Goule-Toppin stopped the clock in 2:01.41.

Meanwhile, Ken Mullings of the Bahamas, started the men’s Heptathlon on a positive note, as he placed third in his heat of the 60m dash in a personal best 6.83s.

Mullings also registered a new lifetime best of 7.69m when he placed fifth in the long jump, and that was followed by a heave of 14.49m in the shot pot. By virtue of those performances, the 26-year-old currently occupies third position on 2684 points, behind Switzerland’s Simon Ehammer (2800 points) and Estonia’s Johannes Erm (2739 points).

They still have the high jump, 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1,000m to come.

US$10,000 in prize money has been guaranteed for the winner of the dash that will also include Jonielle Smith, Kerrica Hill, Tia Clayton and Amoi Brown in what promises to be a mouth-watering showdown of exciting young talent.

Since news emerged earlier this week about the potential starters, debate has raged over who will emerge the winner. Will it be Williams, the Tokyo 2020 relay gold-medallist, who boasts a personal best of 7.04 and who opened her season with a 7.22 clocking at the Camperdown Classic two weeks ago, or will it be Nelson, the 2021 NCAA Division 1 Indoor Champion, who is just 0.01 slower at 7.05?

Or, could it be the World U20 100m champion Tina Clayton, who has run 7.24 two weeks ago?

Noted track writer, author and pundit Hubert Lawrence, believes Williams, having already shaken off some of the rust this season, has the edge over her other celebrated rivals.

“Williams has run a 60 already and will be a little more ready for tomorrow’s race,” he opined while analyzing the line-up for Sportsmax.TV on Friday.

“Kemba hasn’t run any races this season and so is now coming back out onto the track since last year. So, it’s sort of a coming out party for her. The Claytons have run before but Williams is just about the best of them.”

Lawrence, who with Michael Grant recently co-authored 50 Days Afire, chronicling the exploits of several of Jamaica’s biggest track stars, says there are other women to look out for in that race. One, in particular, could be a potential dark horse.

“Also in that race is Kashieka Cameron, who ran a 7.3x and looked really good at the Western Relays at GC Foster a few weeks ago. She started out slowly but finished with a rush.

“When I spoke to her she told me she was training really well and even though she is slim she looked like she had a couple extra pounds of muscle compared to the girl who won the Class 1 100m for Edwin Allen at Champs in 2018. So that’s an X-factor.”

The men’s 60m dash could prove to be equaling thrilling with Jamaica’s three fastest men in 2022 -Akeem Blake, Yohan Blake and Oblique Seville – all expected to be among the starters.

The dash should also include Commonwealth Games 200m silver medallist Zharnel Hughes as well as upcoming talents Jeevan Newby and Nigel Ellis.

Lawrence believes that the men’s 60 could be somewhat open based on how well several youngsters have been performing this season.

“On the men’s side, the X-factor is Kadrian Goldson; at the same Western Relays ran 6.57, finished in a rush,” Lawrence said.

Turning his attention to the big guns, Lawrence remarked that there are questions surrounding Seville’s health, which could be a factor in how well he performs on Saturday.

“We know about Akeem Blake, young, fast. Oblique Seville is in the draw, he has not run a race since last year’s Eugene World Championships,” he said.

“If you look back, you saw him there with kinesio-tape on the back of his hamstring and that has caused Coach (Glen) Mills to hold him out of races until he was 100 per cent. Now, he is in the 60m at Gibson. That’s the watching point. Is Goldson the real thing this season and is Oblique Seville all the way back from his injuries and will he put up a performance in the 6.60’s.”

Lawrence added that young Newby could be someone to watch.

“At the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Invitational ran a 6.62 looking back at the end,” Lawrence said.

“He was second at Champs but chose not to go back to high school and has joined the Motorcade Track Club and the sounds I hear coming from them is that Newby is in terrific shape.

“So, Women’s 60, maybe Briana Williams has the edge because she a bit sharper and in the Men’s 60, is Oblique Seville ready to rock and roll in 2023 after a great 2022 season and is Newby going to continue speeding; he and Goldson are the X-factors.”

Williams, who moved to Jamaica to train last year, is already dedicated to giving back to the community.

Following a Christmas treat that the 20-year-old Olympic champion staged for children in Montego Bay environs last December, Williams will now provide $70,000 each in scholarships to Shakira Rhoden, Shelly-Ann Taylor and Janelia Williams.

Rhoden and Taylor are members of Excelsior’s reigning Anthrick Corporate Area Development Meet 4x100m relay team.

Kayla Harris, who was also a member of that team, awarded her scholarship to teammate Janelia Williams.

Janelia Williams is an ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Athletics Championships (Champs) silver medalist in the 200m.

 The athletes came to Williams’ attention when she read a published interview following the team’s victory at the Anthrick Development Meet in 2022.

In it, they indicated that the multiple Carifta Games gold medalist was a role model.

 When Williams read the article, as well as saw an Instagram post with the athletes, she was thrilled,

“I was so honoured when I read the article in the newspaper stating that I inspire these girls. I wanted to meet them, but leave more than inspirational words. I wanted to support their academic journey,” Briana said.

The scholarship was made possible through Briana’s sponsor GraceKennedy Limited and will be disbursed to the school to cover the cost of books, tuition and other necessities for the 2023 academic year.

 The Briana Williams scholarship will now be an annual offer to aid student-athletes in their academic and sporting pursuits.

"I am committed to giving back to athletes in Jamaica because I know what it's like. It's not easy being a student-athlete.” She shared.

"My sponsor GraceKennedy and I will make this an annual scholarship to deserving student athletes who showcase their athletic talents and are also having good grades."

She encouraged over 100 members of the Excelsior High track team who were present at the ceremony to remain committed to the sport.

"We are committed to helping the next generation in this sport and I want to encourage you to work hard and don't let anybody quell your dreams,” she said.

"Put in the work, listen to your teachers, your coaches and rewrite your goals and recite them every day and don't give up.”

 In 2020, Williams provided 25 tablets to student-athletes forced to attend classes from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She also donated furniture and school supplies to educator Stacey-Ann Donaldson who has a reading and homework centre in Rose Gardens, Kingston.

Williams ran the first leg of Jamaica’s gold-medal winning 4x100m effort at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021). She also won silver as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon. 

Based in the United Kingdom, AW covers news, results, fixtures, coaching and product advice for all aspects of track and field, cross-country, road racing and race walking.

Each year, the respected online publication asks its readers to pick their favourite athletes across several categories inclusive of International Athlete, British Athlete, International Junior Athlete, British Junior Athlete, Masters Athlete, and Para Athlete.

Williams, 19, was among a stellar field of nominees that included Namibia phenom Christine Mboma, the World U20 200m champion and Olympic silver medalist; the USA’s Athing Mu, the Olympic 800m and 4x400m relay gold medalist; Sweden’s Maja Askag, the European and World U20 long and triple jump champion; Silja Kosonen, the European and World U20 hammer-throw champion and Saga Vanninen, the European and World U20 heptathlon champion.

Readers also cast their votes for their choice for the Mel Watman Award for Performance of the Year.

Williams was the fastest U20 female athlete over the 100m in 2021 with her personal best of 10.97. She was also a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team that won gold in Tokyo in a national record of 41.02, the third-fastest time in history.

Williams’ coach, Ato Boldon views her nomination with a sense of satisfaction.

“Briana had to overcome a lot last year, from her grandmother’s death to early-season injuries, so it’s gratifying that she still got Olympic gold with team Jamaica and this is a great honour to be nominated with these outstanding juniors,” he said.

The results will be published in the December edition of Athletics Weekly.

The 19-year-old star athlete ran a blistering opening leg that propelled Jamaican to their fourth gold medal of the Games in a national record of 41.02, totally ignorant of her grandmother’s passing. However, on arriving back in Florida today from her successful Olympic debut, Williams was greeted with the tragic news.

“Just got home and found out my dear grandmother, who lived with us passed away soon after I left for the Olympics,” Williams wrote on her Facebook page.

“They wisely decided to wait until after Tokyo to tell me. I dedicate my Olympic gold medal to her memory and for all she poured into me. Sleep well, Nenna. Thank you. I love you.”

The post has generated more than a thousand messages of condolence from her fans across the globe.

Funeral services are scheduled for this Saturday.

The sprinter, who turns 20 on March 21, took possession of a fancy US$74,000 Mercedes AMG GLE 53, a just reward for her excellent performance in Tokyo where she ran the lead-off leg for Jamaica’s gold-medal winning team.

In doing so she became the youngest ever Jamaican Olympic gold medallist, adding to her already significant legacy.

“So blessed to have gotten my dream car,” she posted on Instagram on Thursday evening. “Thanks to my uncle Lance for helping me pick out all the details and helping me through the process and to my mommy @sharonsimpsonrdh for always being there with me every step of the way. Hard work will forever pay off.”

Williams, 19, who also bought herself a house in Florida in October last year, signed a four-year contract with Nike in early 2020, after years of excellent athletic performance including six gold medals at the 2018 and 2019 Carifta Games and was awarded the coveted Austin Sealy Award both years.

She also won the 100m/200m double at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland in 2018. She also won the Pan American U20 100m in 2019.

Williams holds the Jamaica National U20 100m record of 10.97.

The International Olympic Committee and the organisers in Japan announced on Tuesday that they have postponed the Games for about a year because of the Coronavirus pandemic that has forced the cancellation or rescheduling of major sports across the globe.

The COVID-19 virus has infected more than 400,000 people and killed almost 19,000 in more than 150 countries.

What this means is that the 18-year-old sprinter now has to wait an extra year before she gets to compete in her very first Olympic Games against the world’s best sprinters. Not surprisingly, she posited a mature outlook.

“The postponement of the Olympics is a great decision because it’s for our health & safety. I’ve been looking forward to making the team for Tokyo 2020 with all the hard work I’ve put in, and the daily struggles that all of us athletes have to face,” Williams said while adding that all the athletes affected must still keep that Olympic dream alive.

“But these things happen for a reason. We just have to keep safe and take care of ourselves. “

Meanwhile, her coach Ato Boldon said the postponement simply means that his athlete has more time to prepare to take on the best female sprinters on the planet.

“Briana would have been ready to surprise many in Tokyo 2020, but now she gets another year to get stronger, fitter and faster. She has improved her 100m time every year for the past three seasons, so waiting another year for the Olympics should be beneficial,” Boldon said.

Williams has been in Jamaica for the past two weeks during which time she celebrated her 18^th birthday. Nevertheless, she will soon be back in full training as she prepares for the possibility of meets later on this season and for 2021.

“Our facility here (Florida) has been on lockdown but the restrictions will be lifted soon. She will continue to train with the expectation that there will be some late season meets in 2020.  Her training will be altered significantly though,” he said.

Camacho-Quinn won ahead of the American pair of Chanel Brissett (13.06) and Christina Clemons (13.15).

Barbados’ Shane Brathwaite won the Men’s 110m Hurdles in 13.77 ahead of the USA’s Michael Dickson (13.85) and Brazil’s Eduardo Rodrigues (13.87).

Jamaica took the top three spots in the Women’s 400m Hurdles as former Hydel standout Shiann Salmon (55.35) got the better of 2019 World Championships bronze medalist Rushell Clayton (55.89) and multiple time World Championship and Olympic finalist Janieve Russell (56.56).

Bahamian Anthonique Strachan secured a win in the Women’s 200m in 23.23 ahead of the USA’s Dezerea Bryant (23.72) and Jamaica’s Briana Williams (23.82).

It was a Caribbean one-two in the Men’s 200m as Bahamian World and Olympic 400m champion Steven Gardiner got home in 20.80 ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s World Indoor 400m champion Jereem Richards (20.86) and Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi (21.04).

Reigning Olympic 100m bronze medalist Shericka Jackson of Jamaica ran 51.40 to win the Women’s 400m ahead of teammate Candice McLeod (51.57) and the USA’s Jade Stepter Baines (51.93).

Kirani James made his return to the track with a 45.63 clocking to win the Men’s 400m ahead of Great Britain’s Alex Haydock Wilson (46.05) and Jamaica’s Jaheel Hyde (46.27).

Jamaica’s Chrisann Gordon-Powell was second in the Women’s 800m in 2:04.19. The event was won by the USA’s Ajee Wilson in 2:03.09 while Charlene Lipsey, also of the USA, was third in 2:04.50.

In the field, Shanieka Ricketts won the Women’s Triple Jump in 14.15 ahead of Great Britain’s Naomi Metzger (14.00) and the USA’s Michelle Fokam 13.42).

Jamaica’s Jordan Scott jumped out to 16.37m for second in the Men’s Triple Jump behind American Olympian Chris Bernard (16.57). Bahamian Kaiwan Culmer jumped 15.82 for third.

Jamaicans Chanice Porter and Tissana Hickning were second and third in the Women’s Long Jump with 6.70 and 6.50, respectively. The USA’s Quanesha Burks won with 6.77.

Williams, 19, who broke her national U20 record twice between Sunday and Monday night, ran times of 11.19 and 11.01 on Sunday at the JAC Summer Open in Jacksonville, Florida. The 11.01 lowered her national u20 record of 11.02 set in Albuquerque, New Mexico in June 2019.

The record would last just over 24 hours as on Monday night at the American Track League’s Duval County Challenge inside Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, she ran a wind-aided 10.97 and then a wind-legal 10.98 to lower the record once more.

Her coach, Ato Boldon, was pleased with everything, except Monday’s poor start, that his young charge delivered over the two days and declared afterwards that she is right where he wanted her to be four weeks from Jamaica’s National Championships to select a team to the Olympic Games in July.

“I liked the fact that she competed but it’s just strange for me to not see Briana react well to the gun. She didn’t react normally to the gun and then she panicked a little bit and stood up out of her drive phase,” he said.

“It tells me that where I thought she should be, is where she is. That was 10.87, she lost about a tenth with not having a normal Briana start.”

Looking at the bigger picture, Boldon said Williams proved that she is ready to handle multiple rounds of competition, circumstances she will face at the national championships at the end of June and at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, should she get there.

“The most important thing about this weekend is that this young lady ran 11.19, 11.01, 10.97 and 10.98 so her body can handle the work, she is ready for rounds. This was more a workout than anything else because I purposely wanted to push her,” he said.

“We will back off this week and get her ready for the last couple of races and then get her ready for trials.”

Levy, who lost out on the Diamond League title to Devon Allen by mere thousandths of a second in Zurich last week Friday, lost to the American again in another close race. Allen took the win in 13.10 to Levy’s 13.11.

Brazil’s Rafael Pereira was third in 13.35 while Damion Thomas finished fourth in 13.44.

Williams was part of a Jamaican 2-3 finish in the 100m that was on by Great Britain’s Daryll Neita. Neita, who was coming off a personal best of 10.93 in the Diamond League final in Zurich clocked 11.04 for the victory, just ahead of Natasha Morrison who ran 11.09.

Williams, who has not been at her best in her post-Olympic races mainly because of injury, ran 11.16 for third. It was her best time since she ran 11.00 to finish fourth at the Jamaica national championships in June.

“Last one best one,” she said on her Instagram page afterwards.

“What a season it has been, many ups and downs dealing with injuries and the loss of my nana, but I still pushed through it with the amazing people around me. I am grateful to have finished my last meet of the season placing third at the @istaf_berlin and finally got to have touched the European circuit.”

Meanwhile, Hyde was also third in the 400m hurdles in 48.95. Olympic champion and world-record holder Karsten Warholm was an easy winner in 48.08 ahead of Estonia’s Rasmus Magi who was second in 48.73.

  Williams, who joined the senior ranks at the start of 2020, was joined by her management team and ‘Santa Claus’ who handed gifts to over 100 children from the community where her mother spent her childhood before migrating to the United States.

 The athlete who admitted to having had a good year, despite the negatives of the Covid-19 pandemic, revealed that the event was all about giving back.

“I have been tremendously blessed this year and I wanted to give back to a community that means so much to my family.  I wanted every child here to have a Merry Christmas,” Williams said.

The athlete’s Manager Tanya Lee confirms the event will be an annual undertaking, with future changes to its structure to be considered once the world is past the worst of the raging coronavirus pandemic.

"Things changed a little bit because of Covid restrictions, so we’re just driving through the community and handing out gifts responsibly. We will do the treat on a larger scale for next year, God’s willing. I have to big up Digicel, Grace Foods, Sagicor & Nike for their kind donations this year,” Lee said.

The 2022 World Championships 100m finalist, who ran a wind-legal 9.95 at the Miramar Invitational on April 8, sped to a 9.94 clocking while shutting down over the last 15-metres to win the time trial.

Rohan Watson, whose previous best this season, was 10.32, shaved a massive 0.20s to be second overall after winning his section in 10.12.

Veteran sprinter Yohan Blake, the second-fastest man of all time, and who was second in Seville’s section in 10.15, was third overall.

The Women’s 100m provided a thrilling encounter between Olympic relay gold medallist Briana Williams, returning from a hamstring injury and Carifta U20 champion Alana Reid.

Williams exploded from the blocks and held a seemingly comfortable lead over Reid, who stormed back late to win in 11.16 over the 2018 World U20 champion, who ran a season-best 11.20.

Tia Clayton was third in 11.36.

The 200m races were no less entertaining as reigning world champion Shericka Jackson, in her first 200m of the season, cruised to victory in 22.25.

In her wake was Olympic 400m finalist Stephenie-Ann McPherson who ran 23.38 and Germany’s Tatiana Pinto, who was third in 23.74.

Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes was in a class of his own in the 200m, winning in a season-best 20.18.

Jazeel Murphy, who won Section six of seven, was second overall with a time of 20.76. Nigel Ellis finished second to Murphy, was third overall in 20.80.

Stacey-Ann Williams showed her class in the 400m winning in 51.43 while repelling the early challenge of Ashley Williams, who finished second in 52.11.

Shana Kaye Anderson was third overall in 54.27.

Olympic 400m hurdles bronze medallist Kaliese Carter, who at 36, is making a comeback, ran a season-best 54.64 for fourth place.

In the field, Traves Smikle won the discus throw with 66.05m.

Kai Chang was second with his best throw of 62.78m.

Racquil Broderick threw 57.17m for third place.

In the high jump, Christoff Bryan cleared 2.20m for the win over Lushane Wilson 2.15m and Raymond Richards, who cleared 2.10m.

Jackson was the toast of the meet with a stirring run down the home stretch to clock a meet record and season best 50.92, her fastest time ever in March. The reigning world 200m champion has her eyes set on going faster than the 21.45 she ran to win her first ever global title in Eugene, Oregon last summer and on the evidence of what she has accomplished so far this season building on her endurance, she is well on track.

Coming off the final turn, Jackson running in lane six, found herself trailing Elite Performance’s Stacey-Ann Williams, the Olympic 4x400m bronze medallist and simply shifted gears to surge past the 24-year-old quarter-miler towards the finish line.

Williams ran a creditable 51.59 for second place while Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles champion Janieve Russell finished third in 52.77.

The men’s race was equally thrilling with 2022 Carifta Games champion Roshawn Clarke, who is now at Swept Track Club, holding off the field to win in a personal best 45.85.

Titan’s International runner Assinie Wilson clocked 45.95 for second place. Malik Kymani James King ran a season-best 46.39 for third.

The 200m races were run in an ‘A’ and a ‘B’ and both were interesting for different reasons.

The ‘A’ final featured World Championship bronze medalist Sada Williams of Barbados, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion and she looked every bit the part as she ran down Toyko 4x100m relay gold medallist Natasha Morrison to win in a season-best 22.98.

Morrison held on for second place in 23.24 while Tovea Jenkins was third in 23.91.

The ‘B’ final had two of Jamaica’s rising sprint stars, Briana Williams, who celebrated her 21^st birthday on Tuesday, March 21 and 18-year-old Tina Clayton, the World U20 100m champion.

In truth, it was expected to be a close contest, but it wasn’t.

Clayton running inside Williams’ surged past her elder rival midway the curve and extended her lead once she hit the straight before going on to win in 23.69. Williams, who got a poor start and ran a poor curve, tightened up down the stretch and was passed by Indian sprinter Srabandi Wada, who finished second in 23.98, forcing the Jamaican to settle for fourth in a disappointing 24.03.

The Men’s 100m final proved to be anti-climactic as the three main protagonists Zharnel Hughes, Julian Forte and Nigel Ellis, all of whom looked sharp in their preliminary heats, were disqualified after false starts.

Without them, Canada’s Brendon Rodney stormed to victory in a personal best 10.17, just ahead of Wolmer’s Boys Jehlani Gordon who ran a personal best 10.22 and the ‘msyterious’ Sachin Dennis, who was third in a season-best 10.23.

Tyler Mason came up trumps in the 110m hurdles winning in 13.68, well clear of Odario Phillips 13.83 and LaFranz Campbell 13.85.

Elvis Graham of GC Foster established a meet record 74.58m to win the javelin over Oraine Thomas (68.97m) and Devon Spencer 68.32m.

Fedrick Dacres threw 64.29m to win the men’s discus ahead of clubmate Traves Smikle (63.77), and Kai Chang of the University of the West Indies (60.69m

Gardiner, who is making a return after missing the 2022 World Championships in Oregon with an inflamed tendon, will run the 200m against a line-up that includes Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Botswana’s World U20 100m champion Letsile Tebogo.

The USA’s Kenny Bednarek will also compete in the half-lap sprint that is expected to be electric.

Meanwhile, Jackson, the reigning world 200m women’s champion, will take on a crack field in what will be her third 400m run for the season. She will line up against fellow Jamaicans, the Olympic finalist Stephenie-Ann McPherson, Janieve Russell and Charokee Young as well as American 400m hurdler Shamier Little and Aliya Adams.

World championships finalist Oblique Seville is among 22 sprinters listed for the 100m. The Jamaican prospect will take on compatriots Ackeem Blake, Andrew Hudson, Raheem Chambers, Oshane Bailey, and Michael Campbell for a lane in the finals.

Cejhae Green of Antigua and Barbuda, Ian Kerr of the Bahamas and Eric Harrison Jr of Trinidad and Tobago will also be aiming to make it into the finals. American veteran Mike Rodgers and current star Ronnie Baker will also be in contention.

Among the women, Briana Williams returns to her former training ground, hoping to make up for her poor performance over 200m at the recent Velocity Fest meet at the national stadium in Kingston. However, she will have her work cut out for her as she runs her first 100m this season.

A crack field has been assembled that includes the mercurial American Sha’Carri Richardson, compatriots Twanisha Terry, Teahna Daniels, Cambrea Sturgis, Melissa Jefferson and Javianne Oliver as well as Jamaicans Natasha Morrison, Jonielle Smith, Shockoria Wallace and Kashieka Cameron.

The 200m dash for women also promises to be intriguing with the likes of Caribbean stars World Championship 400m bronze medallist Sada Williams lining up against Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas and Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte.

The race will also include the supremely talented Abby Steiner, Tamari Davis and Kyra Jefferson.

Machel Cedenio lines up in the 400m against Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald and Alonzo Russell of the Bahamas. They will represent Caribbean pride as they do battle with the USA’s Michael Cherry and Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith.

Shafiqua Maloney of St Vincent and the Grenadines will take up the USA’s Ajee Wilson over 800m while Rajay Hamilton goes in the men’s equivalent against Puerto Rico’s Ryan Sanchez.

BVI’s Kyron McMaster will take on Marvin Williams of Jamaica and Andre Colebrook of the Bahamas over the 400m hurdles while Orlando Bennett, Damion Thomas of Jamaica and Shane Brathwaite of Barbados will challenge the might of American Daniel Roberts in the 110m hurdles.

Amoi Brown of Jamaica faces a tough field of Tonea Marshall, Anna Cockrell and Gabby Cunningham in the 100m hurdles that also features Haitian talent Mulern Jean.

In the field events, the long jump for both men and women should provide solid entertainment as 2019 World Champion Tajay Gayle, who has been gradually making a return from a long-term knee injury has been included in a field that also has LaQuan Nairn of the Bahamas and Andwuelle Wright of Trinidad and Tobago.

They will have their hands full facing Japan’s Shoutarou Shiroyama.

The women’s event promises to be an evenly matched affair as Jamaica’s Chanice Porter and Barbados’ Akela Jones will match skills against the USA’s Tiffany Flynn and Taliyah Brooks.

Danniel Thomas-Dodd and Lloydricia Cameron will be aiming for podium spots in the shot put as they take on the likes of Adelaide Aquilla and Khayla Dawson of the USA.

Williams, 18, was supposed to have opened her season last December in Freeport, Bahamas but then withdrew citing issues with the meet promoters.

Since then, she was being put through her paces by Coach Ato Boldon, who revealed recently that the  2018 World U20 100 and 200m champion was straining at the leash, eager to compete. For her part, Williams, having had a taste of indoor running last year, said she is looking forward to doing to again.

“I am very excited and also grateful to be able to run in this meet coming up February 13. I have been eager to run and seeing everyone running well indoors, I wanted to give it another try,” she said.

“I am just going to race happy, prepared. I feel strong and in shape. I just cant wait to see the times I’ll do and I just hope I do well.”

In February 2020, Williams, then 17, ran a personal best 7.18 while finishing third at the Millrose Games at the Armoury in New York.