Discus

Lyles broke Michael Johnson's long-standing American Record when he sped to 19.31 to win gold in Oregon last year while Jackson ran 21.45 to her first World title, becoming the fastest woman alive in the process.

The World Athletics Tour-Gold meet is happening for the first time since 2019, with the three-year hiatus being attributed to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is with great enthusiasm that I can announce the return of the Racers Grand Prix,” said Racers Track Club President and Head Coach Glen Mills at the official launch of the meet at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday.

“It is a meet you don’t want to miss. Three-and-a-half hours of pulsating action in 12 events,” added Mills who also serves as director for the meet.

The meet will host over 150 athletes from all over the world including the likes of reigning 100m hurdles World Champion and World Record holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, Olympic Champion and 400m World Record holder Wayde Van Niekerk of South Africa and British European 200m Champion Zharnel Hughes to name a few.

The future of Jamaican sprinting will also be on display at the National Stadium including the likes of World Championship finalist Oblique Seville, World Junior Champions Tina Clayton and Kerrica Hill as well as National Under-20 100m Record holder Bouwahjgie Nkrumie.

The field events also promise to be exciting for the fans with the likes of 2019 World Championship gold medallist Tajay Gayle and silver medallists Shanieka Ricketts and Fedrick Dacres set to showcase their skills.

“Over the four years of staging the Grand Prix, the standard and quality has been unquestionable and the meet has had some of the greatest athletes in track and field taking part here in Jamaica,” Mills said.

The 12 events set to be contested are the 100m (Men and Women), 200m (Men), 400m (Men and Women), 400m hurdles (Women), 100m hurdles (Women), 110m hurdles (Men), Triple Jump (Women), High Jump (Women), Long Jump (Men) and Discus (Men).

The meet is scheduled to get underway at 6:30pm Jamaica time (7:30pm ECT).

Tickets go on sale in the first week of May. Prices will be announced at a later date.

In Estonia, Miller, the 2018 CAC Games silver medallist, won with a modest mark of 18.96m but just being able to compete has proven to be cathartic for the 26-year-old Jamaican.

For the last six months, Miller, a recent graduate of the University of Georgia, has been living in nearby Lithuania and training with 2017 World discus champion Andrius Gudzius under the guidance of Coach Vaclovas Kidykas. He has been living with his fiancé, Dr Alma Adomaityte, is from Lithuania, about a six-hour drive from where he competed on Monday.

However, being in lockdown, unable to compete and therefore unable to earn, have proven to be quite stressful for the powerfully built Jamaican, who also laments a relative lack of support from the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA).

Competing, he confessed, has allowed him to relieve some of the stress.

“Actually, I wasn’t supposed to be at the meet but I begged my fiancé, she’s a doctor; I begged her to let me go because the pandemic has been depressing,” he told Sportsmax.TV. “I’ve been sick. I have been to the ER like four times. Last week Monday, I spent the night in the hospital.

“I wasn’t supposed to go but it was mostly for mental health. I just wanted to go and feel alive again.”

That said, notwithstanding the win, Miller was not overly excited about his performance.

“The results weren’t good because I’ve been sick but I am happy about it, a little bit because it’s been tough going,” he said. “Jamaica hasn’t really helped.  The ministry of sports did send me money last month but I heard no more until next year.

“Everything has been tough: mentally, financially, everything’s been tough."

The 21-year-old cleared a height of 2.26m on his second attempt to add to his gold medal at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March.

The reigning Jamaican national champion also had three unsuccessful attempts at 2.33m, a jump that would’ve secured a personal best and the Olympic qualifying standard.

Nebraska junior Tyus Wilson was second with 2.23m while Arkansas-Pine Bluff senior Caleb Snowden was third with a similar height.

Jamaican USC freshman Racquil Broderick produced 61.77m to finish second in the men’s discus behind South Alabama senior Francois Prinsloo (63.51m).

Kansas junior Dimitrios Pavlidis was third with 60.97m.

The men’s 400m final saw Jamaican Florida senior Jevaughn Powell produce a big personal best 44.54 to finish third behind Georgia sophomore Christopher Morales Williams (44.47) and Alabama freshman Samuel Ogazi (44.52).

Jamaican Clemson senior Tarees Rhoden was also in personal best form with 1:45.70 for fourth in the 800m final behind Virginia senior Shane Cohen (1:44.97), Texas A&M junior Sam Whitmarsh (1:45.10) and Iowa State junior Finley McLear (1:45.66).

St Lucia experienced a moment of immense national pride, as the island nation secured its first-ever Olympic medals in spectacular fashion. Julien Alfred became a household name after she clinched gold in the women’s 100m, blazing across the finish line in a remarkable 10.72 seconds, breaking her own national record and earning St Lucia its first Olympic gold. Alfred’s incredible speed nearly led her to a double triumph, but she settled for silver in the women’s 200m, clocking a commendable 22.08 seconds. These achievements not only catapulted Alfred into the spotlight but also marked a historic milestone for St Lucia, a small island nation now basking in the glory of its Olympic success.

Dominica also had its first taste of Olympic victory, thanks to the outstanding performance of Thea LaFond. Competing in the women’s triple jump, LaFond delivered a stunning leap of 15.02m, breaking the national record and securing Dominica’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. LaFond’s triumph in Paris resonated deeply within the nation, bringing joy and pride to Dominicans worldwide.

Grenada, a nation with a rich Olympic history, added to its growing medal tally with two more bronze medals. Anderson Peters, a seasoned javelin thrower, once again demonstrated his prowess by securing bronze in the men’s javelin throw with an impressive distance of 88.54m. Lindon Victor further bolstered Grenada’s standing with a hard-fought bronze in the men’s decathlon, excelling across 10 grueling events to earn his place on the podium.

It was the first time that the Spice Island had won multiple medals at the same Olympic Games. These achievements continued Grenada’s tradition of Olympic success, adding new chapters to the island’s storied athletic history.

Jamaica, a nation synonymous with sprinting dominance, experienced a shift in its Olympic narrative at the 2024 Games, with the majority of its six medals coming from field events. Roje Stona led the charge, breaking the Olympic record in the men’s discus throw with a colossal throw of 70.00m, securing Jamaica’s first and only gold medal of the Games. Wayne Pinnock contributed to the island’s medal haul with a silver in the men’s long jump, leaping an impressive 8.36m. Rajindra Campbell added to the field event success with a bronze in the men’s shot put, delivering a powerful throw of 22.15m.

Shanieka Ricketts also created history when she won the silver medal in the triple jump, securing Jamaica’s first ever medal in the field at an Olympic Games.

In addition to their field event successes, Jamaica’s sprinters also made their mark. Kishane Thompson, a rising star in the sprinting world, claimed silver in the men’s 100m with a blistering time of 9.79 seconds, a result determined by a photo finish that showcased the razor-thin margins of victory at the highest level.

 Rasheed Broadbell added to Jamaica’s sprinting legacy by earning a bronze in the 110m hurdles, clocking a season-best 13.09 seconds in another photo finish that highlighted the intense competition in Paris.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will be remembered as a landmark event for the Caribbean, where athletes from St Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, and Jamaica not only created history but also underscored the region’s growing influence in global athletics. These remarkable performances brought immense pride to their nations and showcased the Caribbean’s burgeoning talent and determination on the world stage. As the athletes returned home, they carried with them not just medals, but also the hopes and dreams of their countries, inspiring future generations to strive for greatness.

The 25-year-old Lawrence who’s personal best 65.05m is the Jamaican national record, has four wins from four starts this season. She threw 63.75m to open her season at the USF Bulls Invitational on March 20. Six days later she uncorked a winning throw of 62.88 at the Florida State Relays.

Then on April 3, she threw 57.76m at the USATF Sprint Summit and then just last weekend, April 16, she won with 57.86 at the Tom Jones Invitational.

While pleased with the victories, Robinson has specific goals for the talented Jamaican in the weeks leading to the major event this year.

“What I am working on with her is for her to have a lower limit of 65m. I think a lower limit of 65 is possible,” Robinson said.

“It’s hard to coach remotely but we are making progress. I think it’s possible for her to get to the Olympics averaging 65.”

Robinson knows what it takes to win medals at the international level having guided Fedrick Dacres to the World U18 discus title in 2011, World U20 title in 2012, the Commonwealth Games and NACAC titles in 2018, Pan American gold in 2019 and the silver medal at the 2019 World Championships.

He has also guided Traves Smikle and Basil Bingham to regional medals.

The coach, who has been working with the Kansas State and Colorado State alum since late 2019, tells Sportsmax.TV that when he first began working with her, he realized that there was a lot to get done.

 “With Shadae, one of the things I observed with her was that she desires to be world-class, and I have observed the training of world-class women and when I compared her strength and power levels there were nowhere close to where the world-class women were and they are still not there,” he said.

“It’s a process and she has gotten stronger, so that is one of the things that we continue to work on. You cannot do business without strength and power.

“We have also been working on her technique. It’s not an easy job because to acquire technical skills takes time so we have to be careful because as we work on the technique we are still competing. Even in the offseason, we had to be careful because technical changes take time but we have been working on it and she has gotten better. She has been doing a better job of keeping her throwing arm behind her. She is executing the throw much better but she still has significant room for improvement.”

Working on the mental side of her game is also an area of focus. “I am stressing to her to keep it simple and if we succeed in those areas she should do well,” he said.

Smikle, the 2018 NACAC silver medallist, threw a season-best 66.60m for the victory, his best throw since he threw 67.57m in January 2019. It was the perfect birthday present for Smikle, who revealed afterwards that it was a welcome reprieve from a tough past couple of years.

“The last two years have been crazy with the pandemic and everything. It was very difficult to get into a training flow and now that things are better, not perfect but better, my coach and I got some consistent work in,” said Smikle, who won JMD$90,000 for the win.

“For the season I have been averaging 64/65m. We have been knocking at the door and we finally got it (the qualifying mark) today on my birthday and I am happy about that.”

Noticeably bigger than he has been in previous years, Smikle revealed that his increase in size is also part of his coach Julian Robinson’s plan for him to throw farther this year.

“One of the things my coach wanted me to do is put on a little more weight and we are doing some explosive work, trying to keep consistent with training and today we saw the fruits of our labour,” he said.

Smikle’s throw makes him Jamaica’s best thrower this year ahead of his training partner and friend, Fedrick Dacres, the 2018 Commonwealth Games champion and 2019 World Championships silver medallist and, at least for now, gives him bragging rights in the Reckless Control training group.

Dacres, he said, is sure to use it as motivation to throw beyond the 65.98m he threw at the same venue just over a week ago, the next time he competes.

“Fedrick is a phenomenal athlete and we have been training hard, he has been working hard and we are on track. It is only a matter of time before he hits a big throw,” Smikle said of Dacres.

“Both of us have been averaging over 65m and we just want to work hard and respect each other. I am pretty sure he has seen this mark and it is going fire him up to get something big so the next time we compete, it’s going to be a good one.”

Dacres, a finalist at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest last month, hurled the implement 66.54m to take the runner-up spot behind the near imperious Kristjan Ceh, who unleased a winning throw of 68.48m.

Australia’s Matthew Denny threw 65.25m to take the final podium spot.

The team of the Clayton twins, Brandy Hall and Shenequa Vassell scorched the track to run a time of 44.64 to win their heat. Hydel High (46.37) and IMG Academy (47.03) were second and third fastest to the final.

Holmwood Technical (47.12), Immaculate Conception (47.15), St. Catherine High (47.56) and St. Jago (47.37) will also be in Friday's final.

Holmwood Technical’s Cedricka Williams was dominant in winning the High School Girls discus with a throw of 54.00m. Camperdown’s Victoria Christie was second with 44.88m while Ella Lucas from Warwick High School was third with 42.53m.

Edwin Allen’s Serena Cole, who ran the first leg on Jamaica’s world record-breaking U-20 girls 4x100m team at the recently concluded Carifta Games, jumped 5.98m for second in the High School Girls long jump behind Avery Lewis of Friends’ Central (6.05). Hailey Rios of Somerset jumped 5.84m for third.

St. Jago’s Annishka McDonald was third in the High School Girls' high jump after clearing 1.69m. The event was won by Spring-Ford’s Nene Mokonchu (1.72m) while Conard’s Audrey Kirkutis was second with 1.69m.

The 2022 Penn Relays will run from April 28-30.

The award recognises outstanding professionals in North and Central in Louisiana, who have made a positive impact on their communities.

The 37-year-old Morgan has been a standout member of his community where he is the Fatherhood Programme Coordinator for Life of Choice North Central Louisiana. He also serves as the Campus Coordinator for at-risk kids and is a motivational speaker for youth groups on character and leadership.

Morgan said he was humbled and honoured at being an award winner.

“Thank you kindly, Monroe Chamber of Commerce for recognizing me as one of the North East and North Central Louisiana Top 20 young professional,” he said in a post on Facebook.

“I will continue to be a servant and let God be my guide on this journey. I also want to thank all the people who have supported me and believed in me and giving me the opportunity to work with them.”

Morgan is a motivational speaker at several high schools in his community, churches and at youth events. He has also worked with teenagers and young adults aiding their personal development and also as a mentor and coach.

“It’s also a jubilant feeling when I can share that in the past eight years I have coached over 19 high school athletes receiving college track and field scholarships in the discus, shot put and javelin, so they could get an education and excel in sports,” he said.

Prior to the Paris Olympic Games, the former Ruseas and St Jago High School student and Clemson University and University of Arkansas alumnus took part in NFL rookie training camps with the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints. Though unfamiliar with the game—he donned a football helmet for the first time during these sessions—Stona is intrigued by the opportunity to translate his athletic prowess to the football field. "If there’s like a 99 percent chance that I’ll make a team, then, obviously, I’ll go for it,” Stona shared in an interview with CNN Sport, acknowledging the risk to his athletics career, "but if it’s like one or two, though, I got to be realistic."

Having initially been inspired by Usain Bolt's Olympic gold at Beijing 2008, Stona gravitated toward athletics after a youth spent exploring various sports, including soccer, his first love. It wasn’t until high school that he found his true calling in track and field, particularly the discus throw. "I yanked it, it just dropped right out of 20 meters," he recalled of his first experience with the discipline.

Stona’s path to Olympic glory was further shaped by his collegiate career in the United States. At Clemson and later at the University of Arkansas, he was mentored by Ryan Crouser, a three-time Olympic shot put champion. Crouser’s guidance during Stona’s final year of collegiate eligibility instilled in him the confidence to push his limits, ultimately leading to his standout performance in Paris.

While his NFL aspirations remain in the exploratory stage, Stona is taking a calculated approach. With the NFL season already underway, he plans to prioritize rest and recovery after a demanding athletics season but admits his interest is piqued. "Everywhere I go, people don’t ask, ‘Hey, you’re a discus thrower?’ No, people don’t ask that!" Stona joked. “Especially in the States, they ask, ‘Do you play football?’”

Stona’s next steps will involve discussions with agents and coaches to assess the feasibility of an NFL career. "As soon as I get advice from agents and coaches, that will put me in a better position to make a very important decision or just be more decisive if it’s worth it or not,” he said. “If that part leads me there, then I’m going to give it my all because it’s kind of now or never. I’m curious as to what I can do on the field, and if I end up playing in the NFL, that would be a part of my legacy – I’d love to do that.”

The 25-year-old Goldson, a student at the GC Foster College in Spanish Town, St Catherine, fought off a stern challenge from South Africa’s Shaun Maswanganyi to take the coveted title. The Jamaica led early but was passed by the South African mid-race.

However, Goldson remained composed and eventually regained the lead late to cross the finish line in 10.04 just ahead of Maswanganyi, who clocked in at 10.06.

China’s Guanfeng Chen won the bronze medal after clocking 10.17.

It was the second of Jamaica’s two medals on the day.

Kai Chang of the University of the West Indies threw a commendable 61.66m to win the silver medal in the men’s discus, an event won by Poland’s Oskar Stachnik, who threw 63.00m.

Algeria’s Oussama Khennoussi threw 61.33m to secure the bronze medal.

Lawrence made history by becoming the first-ever Jamaican woman to make an Olympic discus final.

She threw a distance of 62.27 metres in group A of the qualifying round to finish third and advance to the final. During the final, Lawrence fell just below her qualifying mark to throw 62.12 metres. That throw landed her a top-eight spot as she finished 7th.

The 25-year-old took to Instagram to share her gratitude and emotion. She posted a photo of her in the throwing circle along with a caption saying, “I want to thank God for bringing me this far. The journey was rough but he didn’t give me more than I could bear. The aim for this season was to make a top 8 finish at the Olympic Games. On the journey I found out I could do much more. A 7th place finish is what I’m blessed with and I am grateful”.

The second time Olympian went on to thank her coach, Julian Robison, whom she said believed in her from the start and never doubted her talent. She also thanked the University of South Florida where she attends school, for their support along her journey. Lawrence ended her caption by thanking her family for their support over the years and sent a special shout-out to her sister and mother.

The women’s discus was won by the USA’s Valarie Allman with a throw of 68.98. Silver went to Germany’s Kristen Pudenz and Cuba’s Yaime Perez gained bronze.

Mexico won medals in the first two events on the day when Guillermo Ornelas took bronze in the Men’s 110m Hurdles in 14.05 and Cesar Ponce claimed a silver medal in the 3000m Steeplechase in 8:56.65.

Their compatriot, Israel Alvarez, finished fourth in the 800m in 1:50.43 ahead of Dominica's Dennick Luke, who was fifth in 1:50.79.

The Cubans then got in on the act in the discus where Mario Torres finished second with a throw of 60.77m and Anyel Sampre taking the bronze medal with 57.03m.

Another Caribbean competitor, Jorge Nazario of Puerto Rico, was sixth in 50.72.

Mexico’s Luis Peralta was sixth in the Men’s Pole Vault with 4.80 metres.

Cuba then got their first gold medal of the day with Andy Salazar jumping 16.77 metres to win the triple jump.

Taeco O’Garro of Antigua finished sixth with 15.60 metres.

There were only two individual female events on the day.

Arian Hernandez of Mexico finished fourth in the 3000m Steeplechase in 10:57.62.

Yaritza Valera then won Cuba’s second gold medal on the day with a 67.47 metres effort to win the Women’s Hammer Throw.

Her teammate Liz Llorente was fourth with 64.34 metres.

In the final athletics event of the Games, the Dominican Republic secured a bronze medal in the Mixed 4x400m Relay in 3:28.28 while Mexico finished fourth in 3:29.52.

It took a world-leading throw of 70.22m from Dutchwoman Jorinde van Klinken to defeat the 25-year-old Jamaican, who achieved an important milestone of her own. Her fourth throw of 65.47m and fifth of 67.05m meant that she broke her own national record of 65.05 twice, and even more important, it was an indication that she was getting closer to her ultimate goal for this season.

“I was very happy to see those numbers. I really wanted to perform well at that meet. I was happy I could put it together and get the job done. I want to make my personal dream of being an Olympic finalist come true,” she said, explaining that the records, at this point in time, mean little by comparison.

“My only goal for the season is to make top 8 at the Olympics. I know this a great achievement (the national record) and I’m thankful but this wasn’t a goal of mine.”

The simple fact is that for Lawrence and her coach Julian Robinson the new milestone was not surprising but the immediate future is more about achieving the aforementioned goal and that for that to be accomplished, there is much work still left to be done. Robinson is under no illusions. He knows what needs to get done.

 “No, it wasn’t a surprise. Physically, I think she has the ability to produce those distances. However, she lacks the consistency and this is so for several reasons; her technique is not yet stable and she needs more exposure competing at the elite level or close to that,” he said.

Lawrence started the season with a win at the USF Bulls Invitational in Florida on March 20, throwing 63.75m, which surpassed the Olympic qualifying standard of 63.50m. She followed up with another win at the Florida State Relays on March 26 when she threw 62.88m.

After that, her performances dipped even though she kept winning. Throws of 57.76m and 57.86m resulted in victories at the USATF Sprint Summit on April 3 and at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational, on April 16.

Two weeks later, she was second at the North Florida Invitational where she threw 58.66m before her big throws in Tucson last weekend.

The performances represented were the low-hanging fruit that she has been able to reach since she began working with Robinson in late 2019 with bigger goals in mind.

“I train really hard. My biggest aim for this season, physically, was to get stronger,” she said. “The past few years throwing, I wasn’t strong and I was throwing decent. I knew if I could get my strength to a certain level, I could be more consistent. So every time I get into the gym I’m pushing myself.”

She believes that she can get even stronger and be a lot more consistent with throws well above 60m in the weeks she has left before the Olympic Games this summer.

“If I consistently push myself I will get stronger. I already have that mentality so once I’m healthy I will be in the best shape physically for the Games,” she explained.

“I think to be able to throw consistently you must attack your training that way. For me, I just need to train consistently. Be consistent with my gym, plyometric work, working on technical aspects of the throw. That’s how consistency comes about.”

With that goal met, she fancies the possibility of springing a surprise in Tokyo; just like she did on Saturday, produce a throw that she never has managed to deliver before but one that could produce a record that will be more meaningful.

 “If I execute the way I’m preparing to physically and mentally then anything can happen,” she said.

“The Olympic Games isn’t a walkover, no major championship is. My aim is to fearlessly execute all my throws. Before the beginning of the season, my aim was the Olympics. I told myself it doesn’t matter how I compete throughout the season; I need to get it done starting July 31st.”

July 31 is the day of the qualifying round of the women’s discus.

According to Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Entertainment, Gender Affairs and Sports, the work on the throwing circle will be the beginning of renovation work that will start after the country’s Independence Day celebrations.

According to Minister Grange, General Manager of Independence Park Limited, Major Desmon Brown, has said there will also be a complete overlay of the running track and work would be done on the run-ups for the long jump pit, the high jump and the pole vault.

“The work on the discus ring will commence this Thursday, February 27, 2020. The other aspects will start in August after the staging of the Grand Gala,” the minister said.

“On the completion of the works, IPL will seek certification by the JAAA.”

Meanwhile, the IPL General Manager said that the upgrading work falls in line plans by the minister for the overall proposed development of the National Stadium to include state-of-the-art facilities for the field events. “Throwing circles are a part of the facilities that will be installed,” Major Brown said.

Major Brown said also that IPL had been working with ISSA from early January 2020 to ensure that all will be in place for 2020 ISSA/Grace Boys and Girls Athletics Championships.

Attention to the bothersome throwing circle was once again brought to the public’s attention last weekend when 2019 World Championship silver medallist Fedrick Dacres withdrew from the discus competition at the Isaac Henry Invitational.

“I am extremely disappointed and it is very annoying to know that we come to compete and they do not have a suitable throwing surface inside our National Stadium. As throwers, we cannot glide inside the circle as there is no friction there, and I can’t believe this is how they are treating us as throwers,” Dacres said.

The 25-year-old Lawrence, who set the national record of 65.05m in May 2019, while she was a student at Colorado State University, uncorked throws of 65.47m and then 67.05m on her fourth and fifth throws, respectively, of the competition.

Notwithstanding the world-class throws, she was beaten by Jorinde van Klinken of the Netherlands, who produced a world-leading 70.22 in snatching victory.

Kelsey Card of the United States was the other podium finisher having thrown 63.18m.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s men’s record holder, Fedrick Dacres was also second with her best effort of 65.20m.

Dacres, the 2019 World Championship silver medalist, who had undergone surgery on his wrist in November 2020, only managed throws of 65m twice and was beaten by Samoa’s Alex Rose, who produced a winning mark of 67.48m.

Brian Williams of the USA was third with 62.96m.

Dacres, the 2019 Pan American champion, won at the 2021 Tucson Elite Classic two days before with his season-best throw of 65.96m, saying afterwards he was not satisfied but thankful for the victory as he attempts to get back to his best in time for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Dacres has a lifetime best of 70.78m.

Lawrence, whose twin sister Shardia was sixth in the triple jump, sealed her third victory of the season with a throw of 57.76m in the discus. The Jamaican, who has already achieved the Olympic standard by way of her 63.75m effort in Florida on March 20, took the lead with her third throw of the competition.

However, Rachel Dincoff of the USA came close to taking the lead back with her final throw of 57.72, which was good enough to lock in the silver medal.

Kelsey Card, also of the USA, was third with her best throw of 55.50m.

Meanwhile, Barbadian Brathwaite was a comfortable winner in the 110m hurdles winning in 13.82.

The USA’s Ryan Fontenot was more than 0.10 behind, finishing second in 14.00. Jeff Julmis of Haiti picked up the final podium spot when he crossed in 14.50.

In the Women’s 400m, Jamaica’s Chrisann Gordon-Powell opened her season with a 52.47 as she finished second to the USA’s Jessica Beard who took the win in 52.38. Jaide Stepter Baynes was third in 52.54.

There was also a second-place finish for Shian Salmon in the 400m hurdles. The 2018 World U20 silver medalist clocked 56.90 while finishing behind the USA’s Ashley Spencer who crossed first in 56.36.

Gianna Woodruff of Panama was third in 57.22. Trinidad and Tobago’s Sparkle McKnight was fourth in 57.40.

The men’s 100m was won by Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi in 10.29s. He held off the USA’s Isiah Young who clocked 10.35. Barbados’ Mario Burke ran a season-best 10.51 for third while Jamaica’s Odean Skeen, who is returning to competition after recovering from a series of injuries was fourth in 10.55.

STETHS with 41.32 were joint fastest qualifiers alongside Florida’s IMG Academy. Kingston College was next fastest with a 41.72 clocking to win their heat. Wolmer’s Boys (41.79) and Jamaica College (41.85) also advanced as heat winners. Camperdown (42.03) and St. Jago (42.03) will also be in the Championship of America final scheduled for Friday.

The High School Boys International final, also scheduled for Friday, will feature seven Jamaican schools as well as one each from the Bahamas and Trinidad & Tobago.

St. George’s College, Calabar, Excelsior, Herbert Morrison, St. Catherine High, Edwin Allen and William Knibb all advanced as well as Queen’s Royal College from Port-of-Spain and St. Augustine’s from Nassau.

In the 4x800m, Kingston College and STETHS both advanced to the final set for Friday.

KC won their heat in 7:54.79 while STETHS recorded 7:55.96 to finish second in their heat behind Charlotte Catholic (7:54.44).

Defending champions Jamaica College originally ran 7:49.29 to comfortably win their heat but were subsequently disqualified after it was revealed that they used an ineligible runner.

In the field, Calabar’s Kobe Lawrence won the High School Boys shot put with 20.43m ahead of St. Rose’s Joshua Huisman (19.40m) and St. Jago’s Shaiquan Dunn (18.07m).

JC’s Raquil Broderick was third in the discus with 61.92m behind University Garden’s Nathan Villegas -Reyes (62.49m) and Southern Regional’s Fabian Gonzalez (61.94m).

St. Jago’s Demario Prince jumped out to 7.42m to win the long jump ahead of Archbishop John Carroll’s Camren Williams (7.32m) and KC’s Nathan Wade (7.22m).

Three men cleared 1.98m in the high jump with the KC pair of Isaiah Patrick and Aaron McKenzie finishing second and third, respectively, behind Bloomfield’s Ja’Mari Manson.

JC’s Gabriel Lim won the javelin with 61.24m ahead od Danville’s Bronson Krinak (60.31) and Riverside’s Joseph Reed (59.26).

15.17m was the winning mark in the triple jump by JC’s Trevon Hammer. Potomac’s Ty’heak Buie produced 14.88m for second while KC’s Javar Thomas was third with 14.81m.

The 2019 World Championship silver medallist produced a season’s best 19.53m to win, her farthest throw since her 19.55 personal best and national record done in 2019, to win gold at the Pan Am Games in Lima, Peru.

The throw was one of three in Thomas-Dodd’s series to eclipse 19m. Canada’s Sara Mitton was second with 19.47m while the USA’s Jessica Ramsey was third with 19.38m.

“It feels good to be honest. I was struggling a lot with my confidence because I was injured all of last season and I’m finally in a place where I can say I feel like the old Danniel,” she said in an interview after the event.

“I just want to bring this momentum into the World Championships,” she added.

Jamaica’s Ralford Mullings threw 63.75m for third in the Men’s discus behind the American pair of Sam Mattis (68.69m) and Andrew Evans (66.74m).

Thompson-Herah, who lowered her 100m personal best to 10.54 last season, will compete in the Women’s 100m at the meet which is a part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Series.

She will be joined in the race by her compatriot Briana Williams, Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle Lee-Ahye as well as the USA’s Olympic 200m bronze medallist Gabby Thomas. Aleia Hobbs, who has already run 11.06 this season, Twanisha Terry and Javianne Oliver are also down to compete.

Jamaica's Damion Thomas, Trinidad and Tobago's Ruebin Walters and Barbados' Shane Brathwaite will all be in the field in the 110m hurdles while Tynia Gaither of the Bahamas will be in the 200m.

Jamaica's Shiann Salmon and Andrenette Knight will be involved in the 400m hurdles. Their countryman Leonardo Ledgister will be in the men's equivalent.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Shadae Lawrence will be in action in the Women’s discus going up against the USA’s Olympic champion from Tokyo, Valarie Allman, who threw a personal best and American record 71.46m in San Diego on April 8.

Elsewhere, in the field, Trinidad and Tobago’s Tyra Gittens will do battle with the USA’s Vashti Cunningham in the high jump. Gittens season-best of 1.95m, a height equaling her lifetime best, currently puts her at number two in the world. Jamaica's Kimberly Williamson will also be in the field.

2019 World Championship silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd will take part in the discus alongside fellow Jamaican Lloydricia Cameron.