Ncaa

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.

Her time of 11.19 not only broke Heather Samuels Daley’s Antiguan record of 11.20 set in May 1993 it is also the World U-20 leading time for 2021, bumping the USA’s Tionna Brown’s 11.29 from the top spot. Lloyd said she was astonished when she saw the time given how poorly her outdoor season had started with times of 11.52 and 12.05 in her two previous races.

“I was surprised when I looked at the clock and I saw 11.19 because earlier in the season I did not transition as well as I wanted to from the indoor season,” she said.

“I was working with my coach (Ken Harnden), we were talking and he was telling me to do the little things like eating well, sleeping on time and having a better mindset at practice and ever since I implemented that, in practice, I didn’t feel as fatigued and I felt like I was getting back into the right mindset of being competitive and pushing to the line.

“Though my start wasn’t too good, my transition was good and I fought to the line.”

Lloyd's Tennessee teammate Maia McKoy, a senior, was second in 11.23 while Louisville's Brooke Raglin was third in 11.68.

The Tennessee freshman said it was special that she was able to break the record that was previously held by the woman who was her hero growing up.

“It’s really amazing having the national record now knowing that I made history for Antigua,” she said.

“I knew the old record holder Heather Samuel Daley and I have always held her in high esteem and wanted to be like her when I was growing up. Knowing that I am here, I’ve made it, it’s a relief and I feel like this will propel me through the rest of the season. I will drive off of this and keep getting faster.”

It has been a record-breaking season for Lloyd, who turned 19 on April 12.  Lloyd, the 2021 SEC 60m Indoor champion, set a new national indoor record of 7.15 for the 60m and 23.62 for the 200m.

She also ran the second leg of Tennessee's mile relay team that ran a season-best 3:38.29 while winning gold ahead of Virginia Tech and Duke, respectively.

On Friday, the 19-year-old sophomore at Tennessee won the 60m in a season-best 7.33 pulling away from Virginia Tech’s Kennedy Dennis, who won silver in a season-best 7.44. Brittany Aveni was third in 7.51, also a season-best.

Earlier on Friday, Lloyd won her preliminary heat in 7.43s, the fastest time going into the finals. However, Dennis was second fastest just 0.01 slower. However, the teen from Jennings Village in Antigua, said she was confident of victory.

“I am pleased with my performance. I felt that coming out of the preliminaries with the fastest time gave me a boost in confidence that enabled me to pull through with a season-best in the finals,” she told Sportsmax. TV.

She admitted though that she had an eye on Dennis, whom she saw as a potential spoiler.

“When I was going into the final I was mostly concerned about Kennedy Dennis from Virginia Tech because she is a stronger starter than I am but I caught up around 30m and dominated after that point.”

Lloyd would add to her medal haul on Saturday when she finished third in the 200m in 24.34. Aveni, who was third in the 60m emerged the winner in a fast 23.56 while Cha’Mia Rothwell ran 23.97 for second place.

Meanwhile, Tennessee’s Carey McLeod won a silver medal with his best effort of 16.18m in the men’s triple jump won by his teammate Jalen Tate with 16.26m.

Clive Pullen jumped 16.14m for third.

Fiona Richards of Virginia Tech threw 14.58m for third in the women’s shot put that was won by Essence Anderson, also of VT, who hit a mark of 17.01m. Abena Atoubi of Pittsburgh was the runner up having hit a mark of 14.77m.

 Olympic 100m gold medallist Julien Alfred stepped outside her usual sprinting range on Friday, delivering a national indoor record in the 400m at the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina.

Nelson, a transfer from the University of Technology in Jamaica, clocked 7.24 in a close finish ahead of Tamara Clarke, a senior at Alabama who crossed in 7.28s.

Jada Baylark of Arkansas, who was third, was given the same time as Clarke.

The win was Nelson’s second this season after taking the 60m dash at the Razorback Invitational in 7.19 in early February.

Meanwhile, Damion Thomas, a senior at LSU, ran a season-best time of 7.69 but had to settle for second place in the 60m hurdles.

The race was won by Florida State senior Trey Cunningham who ran a season-best 7.55.

Thomas’ LSU teammate Eric Edwards Jr was third in a season-best 7.71.

Based on how well she has been training, “there is no reason why I shouldn’t break 11 seconds,” she said.

The 20-year-old Grant, a junior at Norfolk State University, ran 11.29 for second place in the 100m and 23.25 to win the 200m at the Gamecock Invitational at Gregger Park on Saturday.

“This was my opener. I could have been better but they’re okay times for an opener,” she said, “so I know what I need to fix in practice. It’s to see how I can lower my times before regionals asap.”

She has about two weeks to those regionals and she believes that is more than enough time to get the required work in. “I have two meets to get those times down. I am a lot stronger and I have been putting the background work, so with the right competition I can get my times down,” she said confidently.

Grant, who has a personal best of 11.04, said she was expecting to run 11.1 or 11.0x on Saturday and around 22.9, said running her intent to go faster is not just for regionals but for the much bigger event this summer.

“That’s the biggest goal right now. I am up for the Olympics. It doesn’t get better than that. That’s why I am working on getting my times down,” she said.

“Sha’ Carri Richardson ran 10.7, we have to do something over these next two weeks. We have to apply some kind of pressure,” she declared.

He was 68.

Ebanks, a former student of Vere Technical High School in Hayes, Clarendon in Jamaica and Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas, built a strong legacy as an assistant coach and head coach at George Mason University over a period of 19 years. 

After cutting his coaching teeth at Vere for three years during the early 1980s, Ebanks joined the coaching staff at George Mason (GMU) in 1985 as an assistant coach with the women's team. He served in that capacity through 1990, when he became an assistant coach with the men's team.

Former head coach at GMU John Cook remembers him as the man who helped keep the programme together.

Ebanks was a member of the staff that won the 1996 NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championship. GMU promoted him to head coach in 1997 and was rewarded when the university finished as runner-up in the 1997 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

"Coach Dalton Ebanks was the gentle giant behind GMU success over the years,” recalls Simon Bowen, who was among the Jamaican recruits who joined the GMU programme during Ebanks’ tenure that ended with his resignation in 2005.

“As captain of the GMU track team in 1994, I saw up close how effective he was in giving head coach John Cook the ins and outs of the athletes’ mental comfort in high-pressure situations. He was the only one that could take a high-pressure situation and guide us to composure level to help us maximize our performance.

“He was the architect behind the GMU 400m dynasty that dominated the NCAA Championships and the Penn Relays. He produced the likes of Gregory Haughton and Patrick O’Connor."

Eight-hundred-metre runner Alex Morgan and Commonwealth Games 400m hurdles silver-medallist Ian Weakley were also among Ebanks’ GMU recruits that also included Omar Bailey, Anthony Wallace, Dwight Roberts, Ernest Barrett, Mario Watson, Ali Watson, Maurice Wignall and Paul Henry.

Standout heptathlete, Diane Guthrie was also a student at GMU during the GMU heydays.

Guthrie scored of 6527 at the University of Tennessee's Tom Black Track in Knoxville, Tennessee from June 2-3 1995 to win her second NCAA title while breaking the previous NCAA record set by American track icon Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

For his outstanding work at GMU, Haughton called for the coach to be honoured in some way.

“My condolences to the family of legendary coach Dalton Ebanks, who lost his battle to the COVID-19 yesterday,” Haughton wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday.

“It is with a heaving heart I’m writing this note. To the George Mason University family, especially those who were either recruited or worked closely with Coach Ebanks, please let us come together and do something to honour his contributions to track and field.”

Haughton, who won two gold medals in the 400m and 4x400m relay at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia in 1998, had fond memories of Coach Ebanks and learned long-lasting life lessons from the coach during their time together at George Mason.

“He was not a perfect human being, but his efforts have changed lives in a positive way. He gave hundreds of scholarship opportunities to individuals who needed the chance to get a head start in life. He will be forever be remembered in my life. I pray that God will continue to guide and protect those he has guided throughout the years,” he said.

“One of the lasting interactions I had with Coach Ebanks, is that he was always on the move and on time. The phrase he always uttered, “We have fish to fry.” Meaning, there is no time to waste, let’s get things done.

“I use those very words with my teenage son today. At the time when all of us competed under the coaching of Dalton Ebanks, we were all transitioning from boys to men. As a result, Coach Ebanks held a father-like figure in guiding us through many of our personal issues. With that said, let’s do our part to honour the place in time that we respectively shared with Coach Dalton Ebanks.”

Weakley was devastated at the news.

“What I remember most about Coach Dalton Ebanks, he had such a calm demeanour and a great personality and he really did a good job with that,” he said. “His legacy at GMU was very successful mainly because of the outstanding recruits from Jamaica, Ghana, Kenya and the USA.

“Coach Ebanks loved his athletes. He loved his family and he loved the track and field summer camps at the track and field house that I was also helping him with for many summers while studying at George Mason University. He had a huge heart for people, and it was obvious. He was a personal friend and father-figure of mine and I’ll miss him, but I know he’s in heaven.”

Ebanks, who was living in Connecticut, was recently divorced from Donna, his wife of many years, and is survived by three children.

Nelson, who opened her outdoor season with a wind-aided 22.78 in late March, was impressive indoors where she won the 60m title at the NCAA National Indoor Championships a couple of weeks earlier. Her time of 7.05 was a personal best for the Jamaican, who also set a facility record with the run.

She told Sportsmax.TV that the win was a real boost to her confidence as she headed outdoors. That confidence, she said, has her believing that making the Jamaican team to Tokyo, a real possibility.

“Making the Olympic team would be a huge deal for me and once I’m in the condition to do so I definitely intend to,” she said, indicating that she is not in the least intimidated by the depth of Jamaica’s women sprinting talent.

With the likes of Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, Elaine Thompson, Briana Williams, Jonielle Smith, Natalliah Whyte and Kiara Grant to contend with, making the cut will not be easy. However, Nelson said she plans to focus on her and not who is around her.

“I’d like to think I have as good a chance as anyone,” she said.

“I don’t make it a habit to pay attention to my competition but I have a great deal of respect for everyone trying to make the team. I am just planning to do my best.”

Lowe, with personal bests of 7.75m and 14.32m, for the long and triple jump, respectively, ranks among the best high school jumpers of the modern era in Jamaica. That talent attracted several suitors from NCAA Division-I schools before he finally settled on MSU.

“I’m very elated and happy to have received scholarship offers from multiple schools in the States, and being one of the first persons in my family to go to a university; that makes me overwhelmed,” he tells Sportsmax.TV.

“Mississippi State University was my preferred choice because we had a long talk about my future goals before the track season. The coach of MSU contacted me as soon as he heard about my accomplishments at Kingston College and then he saw some video clips of me. He told where I could be in the future and I was impressed by his response.”

Having decided where he wants to spend the next four years of his academic journey, Lowe reveals lofty goals for his NCAA career.

“I would like to be an NCAA champion, both indoor and outdoor, and set new records at MSU, and continue to make national teams for my country and make my family proud,” he said, explaining that his ambitions extend well beyond the boundaries of the NCAA.

“l would also like to be an Olympian while there, knowing I’m already a Youth Olympian and to win medals in both Olympics and World Championships.”

Lowe is likely to come against his former his KC teammate, Carey McLeod, who enjoyed an outstanding indoor season for the University of Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) this past indoor season.

McLeod is the 2020 SEC Indoor long jump champion and the 2020 SEC Indoor triple jump silver medallist. He is also the 2020 USTFCCCA South Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year (Indoor), 2020 SEC Men's Field Athlete of the Year (Indoor), and was a member of the 2020 Indoor All-SEC First Team.

During their years together at Kingston College, Lowe and McLeod developed a bond of friendship, a bond that remains strong even though the latter has been at school in the USA.

No slouch himself, the Jamaica U20 long jump champion, said he looks forward to competing against his friend and former teammate.

“Carey McLeod, that’s my brother from another mother there. Well, the SEC is the most competitive conference in my opinion. Knowing that we went to the same high school and doing what he’s doing now in the SEC, I feel excited to compete against him,” said Lowe, who won the long jump silver medal at the 2019 ISSA Boys and Girls Championships.

“Carey taught me a lot while at Kingston College on how to train and how to be a leader, so I’m excited to be the underdog and I think I’m ready to face anyone in the SEC.

“The only place I’ve ever competed against him was in training because he’s three years ahead so now it’s all in the “big man league“ as they say, so I just have to work hard and try to improve every day.”

Incidentally, his contemporary at KC, Wayne Pinnock, will also be attending Tennessee.

Lowe said the only disappointing aspect of his impending collegiate career in the uncertainty around when he will actually depart for school given the COVID19 pandemic sweeping the globe.

“The pandemic virus has been a major setback for many athletes over the world not just in Jamaica. Whenever the Government opens the country I’ll leave for school when everything is cleared up because I have already sorted out everything,” he said.

“The pandemic has stopped my goals for the 2020 season but I’m glad that I got a scholarship secured and I’m looking forward to being in the NCAA and making a mark.”

The 2019 World Championships finalist cruised to a time of 2:01.07 finishing well clear of Sarah Hendrick of Kennesaw State, who crossed the finish line in 2:05.64. Andrea Foster of Clemson was third in 2:06.15.

The performance capped wins for Jamaican athletes at the two-day meet that began on Friday.

Trishauna Hemmings won yet another 60m sprint hurdles race, this time in 8.12 in a blanket-finish over Destinee Rocker (8.13).  Jeanine Williams was third in 8.20.

The outcome might well have been different had 2015 World Champion Danielle Williams had not been disqualified for a false start. The 2019 World Championships bronze medalist had shaken off months of rust to win her preliminary heat in 7.97s.

The men’s event went to Clemson’s LaFranz Campbell in 7.85.

Filip Demsar was second in 7.93 while Tyson Williams was third in 8.02.

At the Texas Tech Invitational at Lubbock, Texas on Friday, Charokee Young won the 400m in 52.64 in a Texas A&M 1-2-3.

Syaira Richardson won the silver medal in 53.28 while Jania Martin (53.59) was third.

It was under Woolery’s guidance that Nedrick rose to prominence in high school track and field in Jamaica that culminated with the youngster setting a new national junior shot put record of 20.96m in 2017.

Nedrick, 21, who, for the time being, has a court-appointed attorney, appeared before the court today having been accused of raping a woman at a birthday celebration held at a campus apartment at the University of Minnesota where he is a student.

Woolery said the news has left him shaken.

“I am most definitely (shocked). These are the things that I don’t expect from him,” Woolery told Sportsmax.TV on Wednesday, adding that he believed that Nedrick was getting to the level where he would have been expected to win a spot on Jamaica’s team to the Tokyo Olympics.

The disheartened coach said he speaks Nedrick at least once a week via a Whatsapp group chat. Social interactions and relations, Woolery said, are among the things they speak about each week.

However, he has not spoken to him since the incident because Nedrick has been in lock up and does not have access to his phone.

The development is particularly devastating for Woolery, who played an integral role in rescuing Nedrick from the Clifton Boys Home in Darliston, Westmoreland, during his early years at Petersfield High.

His intervention resulted in Nedrick being among the first male student-athletes housed at a boarding facility at the school.

Meanwhile, Irwin Clare of Team Jamaica Bickle said the organisation is doing everything possible to help the beleaguered thrower. The first order of business, Clare said, was to get him out of jail. Nedrick is being held on a USD$75,000 bond.

Following today’s court hearing a determination is to be made as to how much should be paid to get him out on bond. Once that is done, they will set about raising the necessary funds, Clare said. TBJ is also working to put a legal team together to mount a defence for the thrower.

The former Jamaican high-school star was a key member of Texas A&M’s record-breaking 4x400m relay team that set new standards at the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas last Saturday.

The 20-year-old Young ran a third-leg split of 51.12 as Texas A&M set an all-time collegiate record of 3:26.27.

The incredible time makes them the fourth-fastest women’s 4x400m relay team and is the ninth-fastest in history.

In addition to being a season-best run, the time broke the meet record of 3:27.94 set by Texas in 2016 as well as the facility record of 3:27.66 set by Texas in 2003.

Texas was more than six-seconds behind in second place with their season-best time of 3:32.64. Florida State University also ran a season-best of 3:34.02 for third.

The team of Young, Athing Mu, the U20 indoor 400m world record holder; Syaira Richardson and Jania Martin, will now go down in history as one of the greatest ever in school history. Only Mu’s split of 50.27 was faster than Young’s as Martin opened with 53.04. Richardson, who handed over to the Jamaican, split 51.86 on the second leg.

“3.26 indoor is such a special run, even outdoors, it’s a great run and to have the second-fastest split of 51.1 on such a special team. It’s really a blessing to see that you had something to do with her development,’ said Bennett.

“She is in an excellent programme at Texas A&M and I am so happy that we actually chose that school for her.”

Bennett believes her experience at Hydel has prepared Young for what she has been accomplishing since she enrolled at Texas A&M.

“She is going well. She is improving every weekend. She was also part of several record-breaking Hydel teams at the Penn Relays so she is used to being on several good 4x400m teams,” he said.

Young has thrived at Texas A&M ever since she arrived there two seasons ago after winning the finals of the 800m at the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships in Kingston in March 2019.

The then Hydel star clocked 2:06.02 to win gold ahead of the talented duo of Shaquena Foote and Abigail Schaaffe, who were second and third, respectively.

In her first season at A&M, she ran 2:05.80 over 800m indoors. She subsequently dropped down to the 400m and so far this season has run a personal best 51.93 on February 6.

Bennett said while he was disappointed that she has dropped the 800m he sees where it has been beneficial to Young’s development.

“It’s paying off and I am sure that her coaches and her handlers right now are preparing her looking at getting her ready for trials this year. She will do well at trials as long as she remains healthy,” Bennett said while revealing Young’s ultimate ambition.

“Charokee will achieve through hard work and she is not afraid to work hard to achieve what she wants. She wants to make an Olympic team or World Champs team and she will stop at nothing (to achieve her goal).

Alfred, 18, a sophomore at the University of Texas blazed to a fast 23.50 to win the 200m on Friday beating the likes of US collegiate star Twanisha Terry (23.55) and Nike athlete Teahna Daniels (23.97) in Section 1 of the 200m.

However, she was only just warming up.

On Saturday, in the preliminaries of the Women’s 60m dash, Alfred, who opened her indoor season with 7.18s in December 2019, clocked 7.13 to be the fastest into the finals. The time was a new personal best and St. Lucian national record.

She would go even faster in the finals, clocking 7.10 breaking her own PB and national record.  The time was also the seventh fastest performer in collegiate history and the fastest time ever recorded by a collegian in the month of January.

However, the time was only good enough for second as she was edged by Mikiah Brisco, who broke the tape in 7.08s.

Terry finished third in 7.15.

Alfred's track record is nothing short of astounding. With her electrifying speed, she clinched the NCAA Indoor 60m title and went on to secure the Outdoor 100m and 200m titles.

Her dominance was underscored by an undefeated streak in the 100m throughout the season, culminating in a dazzling performance that concluded in June. In addition, Alfred etched her name in history by recording the second fastest time ever over 200m indoors, clocking an astonishing 22.01 seconds, trailing only behind Merlene Ottey's legendary 21.87 set in 1993.

Her remarkable achievements have not gone unnoticed, as Alfred recently transitioned to the professional ranks, signing with Puma. The stage is set for her to compete in the 100m and 200m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest from August 19-27, where she aims to continue her meteoric rise.

Beyond her prowess on the track, Alfred's commitment to academic excellence shines brightly. The graduate student in youth and community studies at the University of Texas boasts an impressive 3.34 GPA and a notable 71 per cent participation rate. Her dedication to both her athletic and academic pursuits culminated in her being named the Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year, a well-deserved honor after her triumph in clinching five national titles and aiding UT in securing the outdoor NCAA Championship. Her achievements have also been acknowledged by the USTFCCA, which bestowed upon her the prestigious National Scholar-Athlete of the Year accolade.

In July, Alfred's exceptional accomplishments were further highlighted as she was crowned the 2023 USTFCCCA's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Her legacy as a four-time Big 12 Performer of the Year and a 12-time Big 12 individual champion underscores her consistent excellence and unwavering commitment to her sport.

The Big 12 Conference's Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, established in 2012-13, serves as a testament to the intersection of athletic achievement and academic excellence. The honor recognizes individuals who embody exceptional commitment both on the field and in the classroom. Alfred's achievement underscores her remarkable journey, as she met the criteria of a junior or senior in athletic and academic standing, with a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher, active participation in at least 20% of the team's scheduled contests, and a minimum of one year in residence at the institution.

Davis, who ran wind-aided times of 10.98 and 22.02 at the recently concluded NCAA Division 1 National Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas, is expected to vie for a spot on Jamaica’s team to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August and Coach Floreal believes that after prior failures the former Edwin Allen High School star will be ready to compete this year.

 I think Kevona is going to be ready. The goal this year is to go to the Jamaican championship and compete. She has not competed (previously). She's showed up and participated. She's going to compete,” Floreal said of his athlete who boasts personal bests of 10.95 and 22.23, in the 100m and 200m, respectively.

“She's going to actually run what she's running now in the (NCAA) championships, and its maturity.”

Coach Floreal acknowledged the skepticism surrounding Davis's development but dismissed it considering the clear steps forward she has been taking. He addressed concerns by highlighting the unique approach they have taken to accelerate her progress, acknowledging that it didn't always go as planned.

"I've taken quite a bit of flak from Jamaica, and in true Jamaican fashion, I said, 'Me no care. I don't care.' My job is to help this young woman," Coach Floreal explained, emphasizing his commitment to supporting Davis.

The coach recognized that Davis had struggled with confidence issues and made mistakes in previous competitions. However, he emphasized that these were normal errors and not indicative of a lack of talent. Coach Floreal attributed them to a lack of self-belief and the pressure of competition.

"One of the most difficult things is to identify a step process that goes backward. Most people coach forward. I coach backwards," Coach Floreal explained his coaching philosophy. He shared that he envisions Davis reaching her full potential and then works backward to determine the necessary steps. This method, although unconventional, aims to ensure a solid foundation for sustained growth.

Davis's lack of confidence and occasional mistakes in competitions are areas Coach Floreal has been focused on. He believes that her experiences in the NCAA and Jamaica have impacted her mental state, and his role as a coach is to rebuild her belief in herself.

Reflecting on Davis's progression, Coach Floreal highlighted the ups and downs she has faced throughout her career. He mentioned specific instances where her confidence took a hit, such as false starts and disappointment in previous races. Despite these setbacks, he emphasized that Davis has shown resilience and an ability to bounce back, slowly improving over time.

The coach shared some behind-the-scenes efforts to nurture Davis's mental strength, such as dedicating additional training sessions and reassurance to rebuild her confidence. He stressed the importance of taking the necessary time to help athletes mature, comparing it to shifting gears in a car, where skipping steps can lead to stalling.

“No matter how bad Kevona's had a rough road, she's always come back. She's always comes back every year, done a little bit better, a little bit better, a little bit better,” he said emphasizing that Davis is making the steps necessary to be the best she can be.

“If you have ever driven a car, a stick shift. If you go from the first gear to the third gear, everybody knows what happens. The car starts and cuts off. You have to go to the second gear. You have to match up the second gear and then shift to the third gear. And sometimes these gears take time because they have been unable to comprehend what the coach wants.

“But she has to develop. Everybody wants 10.7 now. You're not getting that right now because there's a lot of things I need to fix before I even get there.  If you're a really qualified coach, you understand that you're going to have to take time and sometimes go backwards to come back forward. It's not like instant oatmeal, some of this stuff takes time.”

Coach Floreal expressed his satisfaction with Davis's progress and is optimistic about her readiness for the upcoming Jamaican national championships.

In conclusion, Coach Floreal acknowledged that talent alone is not enough to succeed in the highly competitive world of athletics. He emphasized the importance of mental fortitude and the ability to handle the pressures of the sport independently. With Davis's continuous growth and unwavering determination, Coach Floreal believes she has what it takes to make her mark at the national championships and beyond.

Throughout his career, Horsford battled shoulder and elbow injuries, which ultimately prevented him from realizing his full potential on the track. Despite his immense talent and dedication, the relentless pain proved too much to overcome.

Horsford leaves behind a remarkable legacy, particularly in the realm of Carifta Games athletics. As a five-time gold medalist in the javelin event, he dominated the competition for years, capturing the hearts of fans across the region. His achievements at the Carifta Games, including multiple meet records, solidified his status as one of Trinidad and Tobago's greatest Carifta athletes of all time.

Coming from a family of athletes, with cousins excelling in long jump at both national and international levels, Horsford's athletic prowess was evident from a young age. His journey continued at Mississippi State University, where he aimed to further hone his skills and pursue his Olympic dreams.

In his retirement announcement, Horsford expressed gratitude to his coaches, mentors, and supporters who guided him along his journey. He encouraged aspiring athletes to cherish every moment in the sport and to relentlessly pursue their dreams.

Reflecting on Horsford's retirement, his longtime coach Wade Franklyn expressed sadness at seeing such a promising career cut short by injury. Franklyn had coached Horsford since he was just eight years old, recognizing his exceptional talent early on. Despite the setback, Franklyn remained hopeful that Horsford's legacy would inspire future generations of athletes.

On Friday, Lloyd, a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, ran a personal best of 7.20 to win the 60m at the two-day Clemson Tiger Paw meeting that concluded on Saturday at the Clemson Indoor Track and Field Complex in South Carolina.

The time erased her previous personal best and national record of 7.27 set in February 2019. She just managed to hold off Kentucky’s Abby Steiner who was a close second in 7.21 and Grenada’s Halle Hazzard, competing for Virginia, who clocked 7.26.

“Setting a new national in the 60m feels amazing,” she told Sportsmax.TV.

“The training I’ve undergone this season paid off in my race yesterday (Friday). This season we’ve been working a lot on improving my reaction time and holding my drive phase longer. Implementing more reaction exercises in my training and stepping up in the weight room has helped me improve in those two areas.”

The 18-year-old speedster also set a new national record on Saturday when she clocked 23.63 in her heat of the 200m, the fourth-fastest time overall.

Steiner was the fastest overall in a new facility record of 22.52. Delecia McDuffie’s 23.24 was the next best while Trishauna Hemmings ran 23.28 for third.

The 22-year-old Trinidadian multi-event athlete harbours aspirations of competing at the Olympics this summer whether it is in the heptathlon or another discipline and during a season when she has set personal bests this year in the pentathlon (4,612 points), high jump (1.91m) and long jump (6.62m), Gittens believes her indoor form sets her up well to achieve just that.

“I will definitely try to get the Olympic standard for the heptathlon as soon as possible. At our outdoor regionals we do not have a heptathlon because it’s a week before nationals but my plans are to qualify at my first heptathlon,” she said.

As stated earlier, Gittens has had a good indoor season for far notwithstanding a disappointing sixth-place finish at the SEC Regionals just over a week ago, but with an indoor best in the pentathlon as well as the high and long jumps, she feels she is in a good position to achieve the 6400 points she needs to book her spot on Trinidad’s team to Tokyo in July.

“Indoors is normally a good indicator of how your heptathlon is going to go, and so my pentathlon has definitely shown that it is very possible that my first heptathlon will be around the qualifying standard.

I would hope I won’t have to leave it to the last meet, although I have nationals to qualify, I definitely believe I can get to qualification at my first heptathlon, which will probably be in April or March.”

However, Gittens is not hanging her hopes in the heptathlon alone. So, in the unlikely event that she falls short of the Olympic pentathlon standard, she knows other opportunities abound.

 “Obviously, my goal is to make it into the Olympics in the heptathlon but because of how this season has been going so far there is a big possibility of making it to the Olympics in the high jump and the long jump, and so that is the new goal that I am going for,” she said.

“I won’t be devastated if I don’t (qualify for the pentathlon) because I see there is a chance for me to do that then I am going to run with it. I am going to train hard for that, it’s very exciting,” she said with the caveat that she would only attempt all three events if the schedule allows for it.

“I am sure other ‘multis’ like Nafee (Harris) and Kathleen Johnson-Thompson has done that before but I have never competed at such a level as the Olympics so I don’t know the schedule, I don’t know if it’s just too much.

“I don’t know if its different (from SECs or Nationals) so I am going trust my coach’s judgement and if I do qualify and the schedule allows me at the Olympics then I will definitely try to compete in all three, if possible.”

During the 2004 season, VCB won the Indoor 200m title and was a four-time All-American after transferring from Barton Community College. However, according to Harter despite her short time at the school, the now five-time Olympian had a lasting impact on their athletic programme.

"Veronica probably single-handedly put us on the map as far as becoming a program for sprinters," said Harter.

"I think we were stereotyped as a program that was heavy in the distances and the field events. Veronica immediately brought us legitimacy and world stature in the sprints."

Since those days in 2004, her legacy and her image have influenced some of the world’s best athletes to attend including fellow Olympian and Jamaicans Omar McLeod and Janeek Brown, who have both excelled there.

"There's a very large picture of Veronica on our office wall when you walk down the hallway, and she's holding a bunch of Olympic medals. It's obviously there to impress recruits so they know Veronica came to school here. That's a lot of credibility and notoriety for our program," said Harter, who has been with the programme for the past three decades.

Campbell-Brown, who will be hoping to compete at her sixth Olympic Games this summer, was on March 13, inducted into the 2020 Class of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame at the Statehouse Convention Centre in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Williams, the former ST Elizabeth Technical athlete, now competing for Texas, crossed the line first in a time of 51.24, comfortably ahead of Young who finished in 51.52 for Texas A&M.  Syaira Richardson, also of Texas A&M was third in 52.17.

In the women’s 100m, former Edwin Allen star Kevona Davis clocked 11.35 but had to settle for second place behind Texas teammate Kynnedy Flannel who took the top spot in 11.23.  Texas A&M’s Kaylah Robinson was third in 11.69.

At the same event, O’Brien Wasome, formerly of Jamaica College, took the top spot in the men’s triple jump.  Competing for Texas, Wasome recorded a distance of 15.83m, comfortably ahead of CJ Stevenson who was second with 15.19, and teammate Stacy Brown Jr who was third with 14.65m.

In the women’s high jump, the day belonged to Trinidad and Tobago jumper Tyra Gittens who leapt 1.90m to claim the top spot for Texas A&M.  Texas’ Marlene Guerrero was second with 1.73 and her teammate Trinity Tomlinson third with the same height.