Goule, who turned 30 in March, clocked 52.22 to win ahead of University of Central Florida’s Latasha Smith and Alabama State’s Kyana Evans, who ran 53.88 and 54.25, for second and third, respectively.
It was Goule’s fastest quarter-mile since she ran 51.52 in El Paso, Texas in April 2011.
“I felt great. That was my second fastest 400 that I ever ran and the fastest since college so I am very pleased,” said the 30-year-old 800m specialist, who also ran as the pacesetter in the 800m.
“I think there is more in the tank and I have another 400 scheduled so I am looking forward to it and also see if I can better this time that I ran yesterday (Saturday).
She runs that next 400 in Athens, Georgia this coming weekend and explained that these 400m races and the 1500m she ran at the Florida State Relays in March, are all part of her plan to improve on her 800m for the Olympics this summer.
“I am working on both strength and speed. It is very important to have a balance for the 800m,” she explained.
“Actually, in previous years I also ran the 1500 and 400. The only difference now is that I am much stronger and my times have improved.”
She remains optimistic that the improved times in these other distances will help her run faster than her personal 1:56.15 run in Monaco in July 2018, which is also Jamaica’s national record. Should that happen, it is likely she will improve on her sixth-place finish at the 2019 World Championships in Doha where Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi won the gold medal in 1:58.04.
Alfred, the Texas Longhorn senior who ran a NCAA record 22.01, the second fastest time ever indoors to win the NCAA Indoor Nationals last month, also established a new national record in the event that was contested over two heats.
Lenae Thomas also of Texas was second overall in a wind-aided 22.30 (+3.1m/s) that won the second heat.
MacKenzie Long of Ole Miss, second in Alfred’s heat, was third overall in 22.31. Kevona Davis, who was third in Alfred’s heat ran 22.47 for fifth overall.
In the Women Olympic Development 200m, World Championship 100m bronze medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah, running her first 200m of the season, finished in second place in her heat in 23.23, a time good enough for second overall.
Melissa Jefferson of the USA, who won Thompson-Herah’s heat, was the fastest with a time of 23.02.
Greene, 28, who represented his country at the 2016 and 2020 Games in Rio and Tokyo respectively, has qualified for this summer's Paris Olympic Games scheduled for July 26 to August 11.
He achieved the feat when he placed second behind American Kendal Williams who registered a world leading time of 9.93 seconds. Greene's time of 10.00s, is the fourth fastest time this year, as he copped silver ahead of Puerto Rico's Eloy Benitez, who clocked a time of 10.04 seconds.
The Antiguan had previously clocked 10.16 seconds in the preliminary round.
Bloomfield, who is based in Florida at MVP International, stumbled and fell at the top of the straightway in the half-lap sprint and was seen clutching his leg while grimacing in pain. He was eventually helped off the track, triggering fears that he would have been out for some time, perhaps for the remainder of the season.
With the Jamaican Olympic trials coming up in June, there were even fears that he would not be able to compete and try to book a spot in the country’s contingent for the summer Olympics in Tokyo.
However, after an MRI examination, the 200/400m athlete posted some encouraging words on Instagram that would have his many fans breathing a collective sigh of relief.
“It did look like a bad injury on TV but the MRI results showed that there was no major tear or damage,” a relieved Bloomfield posted on Instagram.
Notwithstanding the good news, Bloomfield revealed that he is still in some amount of discomfort.
“My right glute and hamstring contracted really bad and as of right now are just really inflamed,” he said.
“I am expected to make a full recovery and hopefully I will be back in training soon.
“Again, thanks to everyone who took the time to reach out. The support means a lot.”
The 19-year-old Williams, who set a national U20 record when she ran 11.02 in New Mexico in June 2019, clocked 11.01 at the JAC Summer Open, running at what she said was about 95 per cent effort, as she was saving herself for Monday’s races.
If ratified, the time run with a trailing wind of 1.4m/s would eclipse her previous mark from 2019.
A fast time was always on the cards as in the preliminary round, the 2018 World U20 100m champion, cruised to a comfortable victory in 11.19.
“The first, the preliminary, was good; just working on my start, how low I am coming out of my drive phase, and then most importantly, high knees, don’t break form and just run to the line,” she said of her first run since she ran 11.09 and 11.15 at the Miramar South Florida Invitational on May 9.
She revealed that she was still not all out at her 11.01 run as this was the ‘semi-final’ before Monday’s races at Hodges Stadium in North Florida.
“I didn’t want to go all out, that’s for tomorrow. I was about 95 per cent,” she said. “Glad to have run 11.01 not trying too much but giving enough to where I could set a national junior record and it felt great. My form was great. I liked it.”
She said she was expecting tough competition on Monday but she wants to go out get a new personal best and finish healthy.
Broadbell, who opened his season last year with 13.31 in Kingston, was beaten by American World Champion Grant Holloway who produced a world leading 13.03 for victory. American Robert Dunning was third in 13.40.
Broadbell didn’t run in the final that was, once again, won by Holloway in 13.05 ahead of Dunning (13.23) and Brazilian Rafael Pereira (13.34).
Bahamian Commonwealth Games silver medallist Devynne Charlton opened her outdoor season with a 12.64 effort for third in the Women’s 100m hurdles. The race was won by American 2019 World Champion Nia Ali in 12.53 ahead of Nigerian Olympic Champion and World Record Holder Tobi Amusan (12.59).
Jamaican 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams was fourth in 12.74 while 2022 World Under-20 Champion Kerrica Hill was fifth in 12.86 in her first outing since going pro.
Jamaicans Rajay Hamilton and national indoor record holder Tarees Rhoden both produced personal bests to finish first and second, respectively, in the Men’s 800m.
Hamilton, 27, dipped below 1:46.00 for the first time in his career with 1:45.91 for victory.
Clemson’s Rhoden, who set a national indoor record 1:46.61 earlier this season at the ACC Indoor Championships, ran 1:46.20 for second while Kameron Jones, running unattached, was third in 1:46.47.
Hamilton’s personal best before this meet was 1:46.16 in June last year while Rhoden’s was 1:47.43 done in May 2022.
Prior to her season opener one week before where she ran a windy 12.47, Camacho-Quinn's last hurdles race had been in 2019 and the Rio 2016 Olympian had started questioning whether her future lay in competing over the barriers.
But her perseverance is paying off and in Gainesville the two-time NCAA champion took 0.08 off her own Puerto Rican record, which had been set in 2018, to make a statement in Olympic year.
Behind her, British sisters Tiffany Porter and Cindy Sember both clocked 12.62, with Brittany Anderson finishing fourth in 12.91.
In the men's 110m hurdles, USA's world 60m hurdles record-holder Grant Holloway – who clocked a wind-assisted 13.04 (2.2m/s) a week earlier – ran a world-leading 13.07 (1.3m/s) for a dominant win. Trey Cunningham was second in a PB of 13.28.
World 400m champion Steven Gardiner went quickest over one lap, clocking 44.71 in his first 400m race since his world title win in Doha in 2019, as Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith was second in 45.53. Fastest in the women’s events was Jessica Beard with a time of 51.00.
Javianne Oliver won the women’s 100m from Olympic long jump champion Tianna Bartoletta – 11.12 to 11.16 (2.2m/s).
The men’s 100m saw the quickest time come in the university race as Jo'Vaughn Martin improved his PB from 10.40 to 9.94 (1.6m/s) to equal the world lead. Justin Gatlin went quickest in the 'Olympic Development' races with 9.98 (1.4m/s) ahead of Andre De Grasse with 9.99, Kenny Bednarek with 10.03 and Noah Lyles with 10.08.
Just one week after clocking 10.72 for 100m, Sha'Carri Richardson continued her fine form to run 22.11 (1.0m/s) in her 200m season debut on the first day of Tom Jones Memorial Invitational action on Friday (16).
It is the 21-year-old’s second quickest ever time for the distance behind her PB of 22.00 set in Florida last August and saw the world U20 record-holder win the heat by almost half a second ahead of Lynna Irby with 22.57.
World and Olympic medallist Blessing Okagbare was third in 22.66.
The time clocked by Richardson – who moved to sixth on the world all-time list with her 100m run the week before – is the second-fastest in the world at this early point of the season behind Shaunae Miller-Uibo’s 22.03 from earlier this month.
World 400m bronze medallist Fred Kerley went quickest in the men’s 200m heats, equalling his PB with 20.24 (0.9m/s) ahead of Jereem Richards with 20.30. Erriyon Knighton won another heat in 20.39 (0.5m/s).
World 400m hurdles silver medallist Sydney McLaughlin improved her 100m hurdles PB to 12.92 (0.2m/s) at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California, on Friday (16).
With that result, the 21-year-old becomes the first woman to break 13.00 for the 100m hurdles, 23.00 for 200m and 53.00 for the 400m hurdles.
She was back in action just 40 minutes later and ran 51.16 in the 400m heats.
In 2019, Whyte who was then training at MVP International in Florida ran a blistering lead-off leg before handing off to 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as Jamaica sped to a gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Notwithstanding the intervening ‘pandemic year’, 2020, when Covid-19 shut the world down; her confidence boosted by the gold-medal performance in Doha, Whyte began 2021 in fine form running a lifetime best of 11.04 at the Pure Athletics Sprint Elite Meet in Miramar, Florida on May 2. However, for reasons that she is yet to comprehend, Whyte failed to make Jamaica's team to the Tokyo Olympic Games after finishing seventh in the 100m semi-finals at the National Championships last June in a disappointing 11.52.
“I don’t know what happened to be honest. I started the season well but didn’t progress,” she said while revealing that the disappointment of not making the team to Tokyo was hard to take.
“I took not making the team really hard but sometimes we rise, sometimes we fall but you have to know how to turn negatives into positives.”
During the season break, Whyte took the decision to leave the MVP International training group for the Rana Reider-led Tumbleweed group in Jacksonville, hoping that a change of environment might bring about the change she needed.
“I eventually started to take the positives from last season and knew that eventually, I had to leave the past in the past because it already happened and there was nothing I could do but work on the future. So this is a new chapter and I am just trying to work even harder, stay healthy and apply what I’m learning,” she said.
So far, it seems to be working well.
On April 30, in her first 100m of the season at the UNF Invitational in Jacksonville, she ran a lifetime best of 10.97 to follow up on the 22.57 she ran over 200m two weeks before at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville.
“I’m really happy with the results as much as you would imagine,” she told Sportsmax.TV afterwards. “I just want to stay patient, continue to work on the many things I can improve on and see what else God has in store for me.”
She does admit, however, that despite the early success, making the move to Tumbleweed to work with Reider was not an easy decision but she believes it was the correct one.
“I have to say making changes is hard but sometimes changes can be good,” she said.
“I have been working on a lot of things and also learning a lot of new things so hopefully putting the new knowledge together will help me reach the goals I have made for myself for this season.”
The 23-year-old former Jamaica College jumper cleared 2.23m to withstand the challenge of USC senior Ernie Sears who also cleared 2.23 but awarded second on the countback.
Jordan Wesner, a senior of Florida State was third with 2.20m.
Brown's was the ninth-best clearance in the world this year.
On March 26, Brown had produced a season-best 16.57m to win the triple jump.
The meet continues tomorrow.
On the night of October 5, 2019, Whyte ran the leadoff leg for Jamaica’s Women 4x100m team that was a runaway winner of the sprint relay final. Whyte was instrumental to the victory as she gave the team a strong start that put Jamaica in command early.
Whyte handed off to 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, who put Jamaica further into the lead before Jonielle Smith extended the lead even farther before handing off to Shericka Jackson, who powered home well clear of the field.
Jamaica’s winning time of 41.44 was the third fastest by a Jamaican team and the seventh fastest in history. Silver medallists Great Britain clocked 41.85 while the United States won bronze in 42.10.
Nine months later, Whyte has yet to come to grips with the reality that she is a World Championships gold medallist. “The gold medal is still unbelievable,” she said. “That is why I am so eager for the Olympics because maybe if I can win another medal at that level it will feel more realistic.”
She was so focussed, she said, that she hardly remembers anything about the race.
“The last thing I remember before the race was waving when they were introducing the line-up and maybe that is why it’s so unbelievable but I just really wanted to show my ability and do my best,” she said. “I do watch the race now and then and I think it was a really good leadoff and I’m happy that I did so well.”
The multiple Olympic and World Championship gold medallist was honoured for her work through the Pocket Rocket Foundation out of her desire to give back to the sport and create lasting change for high-school student athletes through sports and education.
Fraser-Pryce, who will be going for an unprecedented sixth world 100m title in Budapest in August, was glad that her philanthropy was being recognized.
“ I am honored to receive the 2023 International Humanitarian Award from @AFJCares for my work with @sfppocketrocketfoundation and beyond. One’s legacy isn’t measured by medals alone, but by impact. Your legacy is the result of your life’s work,” she said.
“I understand what it is like be born into circumstances that are outside of my control, and am grateful for the people that empowered me to realize that I had control of my future. Special shout out to Wolmers Girl School and many thanks to everyone who came together to make (the night) special.”
The woman, who many pundits believe is the greatest female 100m sprinter of all time, opens the 2023 season in Botswana on April 29.
Retired businessman Douglas Orane was also honoured at the ceremony.
This marks the third instance in which the current Olympic 100m bronze medalist has postponed her season opener.
Jackson previously withdrew from the JAAA Puma/Fuller/Anderson Development Meet at GC Foster College in Spanish Town on January 13 due to illness, and the Queen’s/Grace Jackson Development meet at the National Stadium on January 26.
"Never Quit. Unfortunately, Shericka won’t be competing at the Miramar Invitational this Saturday. Will definitely keep y’all updated whenever the season opener is scheduled," Jackson said in a post on her Facebook page on Friday.
She was scheduled to compete in the 200m.
Jackson is the second high-profile athlete to withdraw from the meet as reigning world 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson of the USA also announced her non-participation on social media on Wednesday.
The 39-year-old Scott takes up the appointment after serving for the last nine years as the Director of Field Events and Throws Coach at Florida State University where he coached the likes of Gleneve Grange, Shanice Love, Kellion Knibb, who were each national junior record holders as well as Emmanuel Oniya and Chadwick DaCosta.
According to UNLV’s Athletics Director Desiree Reed-Francois, Scott, a two-time Olympian was the best fit for the school.
"Dorian's values-based leadership, preparation both as an Olympic athlete and as a coach at the highest levels, along with his commitment to the student-athletes holistic development became apparent throughout this process," Reed-Francois said.
"He has an infectious enthusiasm, a relentless work ethic and he will bring a very high energy to our program. His focus on excellence both on and off the track and field, as well as his coaching and recruiting experience at Florida State will continue our upward trajectory and positive momentum.
"Dorian's plan and vision for the future of the UNLV track & field and cross country programs were impressive, and we look forward to competing for championships under his direction in the near future. Thank you to Sarah Wattenberg and the search committee for their leadership throughout this search."
Scott, who is also a two-time Commonwealth Games silver medalist said he was grateful for the opportunity.
"I would like to thank UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield and Director of Athletics Desiree Reed-Francois for the opportunity to join such an exciting and dynamic athletics department. It is a true honour to become the head coach of track and field/cross country at UNLV,” he said.
“I'm excited to elevate the program and to bring some special student-athletes to this amazing city. My family and I can't wait to join the UNLV community!
"I would also like to thank the administration and staff at Florida State, especially head coach Bob Braman, for his leadership and support. He entrusted me to help build up the field events and gave me a lot of freedom to make FSU throws my own. I would not be the coach I am without my experience at FSU."
During Scott’s tenure at FSU, the women’s programme won seven ACC titles while the men have won nine. His throwers have also set seven school records.
Scott, who was named the 2017 USATFCCA South Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year, rejoined the Florida State program in 2012 after coaching the 2012 season at San Diego State University as an assistant. While there, he coached one of SDSU's student-athletes to the 2012 NCAA Outdoor discus title, which contributed to the Aztecs finishing in the top 10.
As a student-athlete at Florida State, Scott became the No. 2 shot-putter in school history. He earned first-team All-America honours in 2005, contributing to the team's fourth-place national finish - the program's best in 25 years. The 2005 ACC Outdoor shot put champion, he was a five-time All-ACC honoree and part of five conference team titles. He still holds FSU's Mike Long Track record (21.45 meters/70-4.50), which he set as a professional in 2008 prior to the Beijing Olympics. Scott also became the first Jamaican thrower to reach the finals in the shot put during the 2012 London Olympics.
The LSU sophomore, who ran 22.31 on Thursday to secure her spot in the 200m final, came back a day later to run 11.09 to be the joint-fastest qualifier for Saturday’s final alongside collegiate leader Jacious Sears of Tennessee.
Bahamian Florida junior Wanya McCoy and Jamaican Georgia freshman Jehlani Gordon advanced to the men’s 100m final as the second and ninth fastest qualifiers with 10.09 and 10.17, respectively.
The women’s 400m prelims saw Arkansas senior Nickisha Pryce become the eighth-fastest Jamaican ever in the event.
Pryce, who is Jamaica’s reigning national champion, ran a personal best and collegiate leading 49.72 to advance to the final as the fastest qualifier ahead of teammate Kaylyn Brown who ran 49.86.
LSU sophomore Jahiem Stern produced 13.45 to advance to the final of the 110m hurdles.
In the field, the Jamaican Arkansas pair of Romaine Beckford and Wayne Pinnock won gold in the high jump and long jump, respectively.
Beckford had a best clearance of 2.22m to win ahead of LSU’s Kuda Chadenga (2.19m) and Ole Miss’s Arvesta Troupe (2.14m).
Pinnock, a sliver medalist at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, jumped 8.09m to successfully defend his SEC title.
Georgia’s Micah Larry produced 7.80m for second while Florida’s Caleb Foster was third with the same distance.
Maloney, an 800m gold medallist at the NACAC U-23 Championships in 2021, ran 1:23.80 to win ahead of Americans Sadi Henderson (1:27.81) and Ajee Wilson (1:27.86).
The 25-year-old is coming off an excellent season indoors that included 800m wins at the Arkansas Invitational on January 12, Razorback Invitational on January 27 and the Tyson Invitational on February 10.
Also among the winners on Saturday were Bajan two-time World Championships 400m bronze medallist Sada Williams, Jamaican sprint hurdler Tyler Mason and Bahamian quarter miler Alonzo Russell.
Williams produced 22.82 to take the women’s 200m ahead of Denmark’s Ida Karstoft (23.010 and American Kynnedy Flannel (23.32).
Mason took the win in the men’s 110m hurdles with a time of 13.57. American Eric Edwards was second in 13.60 while Great Britain’s Andrew Pozzi was third in 13.63.
Russell ran a season’s best 45.35 to win the men’s 400m ahead of Alexander Ogando of the Dominican Republic (45.36) and Bahamian Wendell Miller (46.00).
World Indoor 60m bronze medallist Ackeem Blake ran 10.28 to finish second in the men’s 100m, just behind American Courtney Lindsey who ran the same time as Blake. Another Jamaican, Andre Ewers, ran 10.43 to finish third.
In the field, 2019 World Championships silver medallist Danniel Thomas-Dodd threw 18.72m for third in the women’s shot put behind American Maggie Ewen (18.95m) and Chase Jackson (19.88m).
Jamaican Chanice Porter jumped 6.36m for second in the women’s long jump. The USA’s Taliyah Brooks narrowly won the event with 6.38m while Puerto Rico’s Alysbeth Felix-Boyer was third with a season’s best 6.28m.
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.
McLeod easily won the race ahead of Americans Nicholas Anderson (13.52) and Zaza Wellington (13.69).
Andre Ewers, who represented Jamaica in the 200m at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, won the Men’s 100m in 10.30 ahead of Spencer Schmidt (10.33) and Damarcus Simpson (10.36).
Trinidad’s Asa Guevara narrowly missed out on a win in the 200m running 20.70 to finish behind Great Britain's 400m specialist Matthew Hudson-Smith (20.68). Jamaica’s Nathon Allen was third in 20.88.
Lloydrecia Cameron threw 17.78m for second place in the Women’s Shot Put behind Oklahoma’s Payden Montana (17.88m). Miami’s Hannah Hall was third with (17.01m).
The 2017 World Championship bronze medallist ran a swift 20.12 to win ahead of Great Britain’s Charlie Dobson (20.19) and the USA’s Trevor Stewart (20.45).
Richards will be looking to take his momentum from a gold medal in the 400m at the World indoor Championships in Belgrade in March into this outdoor season.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Natalliah Whyte ran 22.57 for third in the Women’s 200m behind the USA’s Cambrea Sturgis (22.40) and Kayla White (22.50).
Elsewhere, Jamaican Olympian Rhonda Whyte was victorious in the Women’s 400m hurdles in 55.49 ahead of the USA’s Deshae Wise (56.19) and Turks and Caicos’ Yanique Haye-Smith (57.15).
The Olympic 4x100m relay gold medalist from Tokyo ran 22.81 to win the Women’s Olympic Development 200m ahead of the USA pair Shannon Ray (22.95) and Brittany Aveni (23.10).
Antigua and Barbuda’s Tennessee sophomore Joella Lloyd was sixth in the Women’s College 200m in 23.32. The event was won by Florida’s Talitha Diggs in 22.78 ahead of Kentucky’s Karimah Davis (22.97) and Iowa’s Lasarah Hargrove (23.09).
Jamaican Kentucky senior Kenroy Williams was eighth fastest in the Men’s 400m Hurdles with 50.92. South Carolina’s William Spencer Jr won the event in 49.56 ahead of Maryland’s Caleb Dean (49.78) and North Carolina A&T’s Cory Poole (50.20).
Purdue senior and former Jamaica College standout Safin Wills jumped 7.49m for eighth in the Men’s Long Jump won by A’Nan Bridgett of Rutgers in 7.72. Isaiah Holmes of Miami jumped 7.69 for second while Florida’s Malcolm Clemons jumped 7.63 for third.
