"This year is a very big year. I owe myself a lot. I am not thinking about what the crowd or people have to say; I'm doing it for me,” expressed Williams who has had to face her fair share of public criticism in recent times.
“I am doing this to raise the flag of Jamaica in Paris, and I am really focused on this year, doing everything I can to just give myself the glory and to fulfill the dream that I have had since I was little – to be in Paris. I really want to make myself, my mother, my family, my coaches, and Jamaica proud. I really owe it to myself, and I feel like I can do it."
At the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland that concluded last weekend, Williams produced times of 7.22 and 7.19, which saw her bow out at the semi-finals, a step back from her 2022 campaign in Belgrade where she was fifth in the finals in a lifetime best of 7.04.
Williams emphasized that she is not overly concerned about what happened in Glasgow as her primary focus this year is on returning to her best form in the 200m. Reflecting on her indoor achievements, she explained, “I wasn’t really preparing for World Indoors. I am opening up next week in the 200m (Velocity Fest) and I really want to focus on that this year because the 200 holds a special place in my heart because I feel like the last time I had a great 200m was in 2018 and that was when I really fell in love with it so I want to pick up back from there and continue to excel in the 200m.”
At the World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, Williams won both the 100m and 200m, the latter in what was then a championship record of 22.50, which still remains a lifetime best for the soon-to-be 22-year-old.
To achieve her goals this year, Williams said she is also honing in ramping up her fitness.
"I am focusing on toning my body this year and being in the best shape of my life. It's not going to happen overnight, but I have been seeing the progress, and so we are just focusing on speed now, running these races and winning," she affirmed confidently.
In light of this claim, they have called upon the relevant authorities to immediately authorize the resumption of track and field that will allow the country to maintain its standing in global athletics.
The last track meet was held on March 20, 2021, and with the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships and the World Relays in Poland looming, Jamaica’s athletes will be at a significant disadvantage.
“The current delay is destructive. The psychological and mental damage to our athletes and coaches is almost irreparable. As a nation, we cannot afford a cancellation of ISSA Champs 2021, which the delay will cause. Not only is the competition a major pillar for our world-renowned track and field prowess, it provides the platform for student-athletes to earn athletics scholarships to overseas colleges and universities.”
JATAFCA said that the available data indicates that Jamaica’s student-athletes earn scholarships valued at over J$2 billion. This is a stark contrast to the J$85.791 million allocated in the 2019-20 Estimates of Expenditures for the Ministry of Sports for Athlete’s insurance. No other line item was identified as applicable.
“We, therefore, call upon the authorities to recognize the importance of track and field to the overall national development, the psyche and contribution to the young people of our nation. We implore them to partner with the JAAA, ISSA and their sponsors, to stage these competitions safely and successfully,” they said.
The inactivity, JATAFCA said, is due to the absence of approval by the authorities for the additional competitions organized and managed by the governing body the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA).
“We are made to understand that the authorities are concerned about the spike in COVID-19 cases and the stress on the public health system,” the JATAFCA said in a statement Thursday.
“Let it be clear that we too are equally concerned. We are, however, of the opinion that concern for public health is not diametrically opposed to the staging of COVID-19 safe track and field competitions. It is all about striking a balance, minimize the fallouts, and pursue the things we are best at.”
The coaches’ association said that over a three-week period from February 27 to March 20th, the JAAA staged 20 competitions that saw 39 junior athletes - 27 boys and 12 girls - making the very rigorous qualifying standards for the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi Kenya.
In addition, there was at least one world-leading performance from a senior athlete.
“With some 1500 juniors and close to 300 senior athletes competing in the Qualification Trial Series (QTS), there was no reported positive COVID-19 case(s) among athletes, officials or athlete support personnel,” the coaches said.
“The JAAA executed well and established a blueprint that several countries across the NACAC region, including USA and Canada, have now adopted.
“We also make the call for authorities to provide clear and immediate responses, within 24 hours, to the applications for permits now in their possession. Further delay would be tantamount to assisting our global competitors in making light of our efforts when we meet on the track or in the field later this year.
“As an association, we will continue to play our part in encouraging our members to practice all the COVID-19 protocols for mask-wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene. They know we hold them to a high standard of compliance, a similar standard that has resulted in us being ranked third in World Athletics.”
The decision to cancel this year’s event was made at a meeting of the Gibson Relays Organizing Committee on Wednesday. They cited the “catastrophic rise” in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country in recent weeks.
Since its inaugural staging in 1973, the Relays were previously cancelled on four occasions - 1983, 1997, 1999 and 2002.
The news will be a blow to Jamaica’s track and field athletes many of whom are preparing for the Olympic Games in July as well as the Carifta Games and World U20 Championships in August as it follows on the heels of the Jamaican government’s decision to withdraw approval for the hosting of the Central Athletics Championships and Eastern Athletics Champions in the past few days.
The organizers said they are optimistic the Relays will resume next year.
“We look forward to hosting this event in 2022. Thanks to our many sponsors and other stakeholders for their continued support of this 48-year-old event which was planning its 45th staging. Since its inaugural staging in 1973, the Relays were previously cancelled on four occasions (1983, 1997, 1999 and 2002).
“The Gibson McCook Relays Organizing Committee regret this decision but feel certain that fans of track and field in general and GMR fans will understand and support this decision.
“We would like to extend our condolences to the families of those who have lost loved ones and we empathize with those who are suffering from COVID-19. We implore all Jamaicans to follow the necessary protocols in order to stay safe and finally, we encourage the taking of the vaccine which will help to prevent further spread and hasten our return to a level of normality.”
The former St Jago High School star athlete won the 400 title at the 2013 World U18 Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine in 45.89. He won another gold medal as a member of Jamaica’s medley relay team that clocked 1:49.23.
Just over a year later, he ran 46.31 to win gold in the 400m at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China.
However, injuries have prevented Manley from fulfilling his potential and following in the footsteps of his former coach Bertland Cameron and others like Gregory Haughton, Davian Clarke and indeed the icons of the 1948 and 1952 Olympics, Herb McKenley and George Rhoden.
“Today is a difficult day for me, but it is also a day of reflection and gratitude. Representing my country, Jamaica has been a tremendous honour. During my nine years as a track and field athlete, I’ve always pursued success while preparing and training with the highest standards of competition, perseverance and passion,” Manley posted on Instagram on Thursday evening.
“With much sadness but without regret, I realize that due to recurring injuries, I am no longer able to train and perform at the level track and field demands. I say this with a heavy heart. I am retiring from track and field.
“This decision was tough, and although I know this will not bring me happiness, I believe it is the right action to take at this time in my life. I cherished every moment of my track and field career and it has been such a blessing to represent my country. I anxiously look forward to the next chapter of my life but this time with the sole focus of developing my new career path.”
Manley showed glimpses of what was possible when as a member of Jamaica’s 4x400m relay team at the World U20 Championships that won a bronze medal in 3:04.47.
He was also a member of Jamaica’s 4x400m team that won the bronze medal in the 4x400m relay at the World Relays in the Bahamas in April 2017.
The team of Serena Cole, Tia Clayton, Kerrica Hill and Tina Clayton, clocked a world-record 42.94 to win by about 10m over a fast-finishing Namibian team that ran 43.76 for the silver medal. Interestingly, Namibia’s anchor Christine Mboma clocked an astonishing 9.86s on the anchor leg.
Nigeria ran a season-best 43.90 for the bronze medal.
Jamaica’s winning time broke the previous world record of 43.27 set by Germany in 2017. The time also erased the championship record of 43.40 set by Sherone Simpson, Kerron Stewart, Aneisha McLaughlin and Simone Facey when the championships were held in Kingston in 2002.
It was Jamaica’s third gold medal of the championships following those won by Tina Clayton in the 100m and Ackera Nugent in the 100m hurdles.
Earlier, Jaydon Hibbert jumped a personal best 16.05m to win the silver medal in the triple jump competition won by Sweden’s Gabriel Wallmark with a mark of 16.43m, a Swedish national U20 record.
Frenchman Simon Gore jumped a personal best 15.85m for the bronze medal.
Jamaica also won a silver medal in the discus in the form of Ralford Mullings who threw a personal best 66.68m to finish behind the now two-time champion Mykolas Alekna of Lithuania who won with a new championship record of 69.81m.
Raman Khartanovich threw a personal best 62.19m for the bronze medal.
Devontie Archer was an unexpected medalist in the 400m hurdles after he finished fourth in a new personal best of 49.78. However, Sweden’s Oskar Edlund, who crossed the finish line first was disqualified which meant that Archer was promoted to third and a medal.
Neutral athlete Denis Novoseletsen won the silver after he too ran a personal best of 49.62 with the gold going to Turkey’s Berke Akcam whose winning time of 49.38 was a national U20 record.
Jamaica mined three additional silver medals in the relays as the 4x100m team of Alexavier Monfries, Bryan Levell, Andrew Gillips and Sandrey Davison clocked an area record 38.61 behind South Africa World U20 record of 38.51.
Poland was third in 38.90, which is a new area record as well.
The final two medals came in the 4x400m relays in which the teams delivered strong performances. The girls ran 3:36.57 to claim silver behind Nigeria’s winning time of 3:31.46. Italy was the other team on the podium clocking 3:37.18.
The boys clocked 3:05.76 in a valiant effort to finish second to Botswana, who took the gold medal in 3:05.22. Kenya clocked 3:05.94 for the bronze medal.
Overall, Jamaica finished fifth on the medal table with three gold, six silver and two bronze medals at the championships.
Hill's victory was never in doubt as she took control of the race from the start, leading the field decisively. Her winning time of 12.99 seconds secured her second consecutive World U20 title and further established her as a rising star in the sport.
Mia Wild of Croatia claimed the silver medal, finishing in 13.15 seconds, while Australia's Delta Amidzosvki took the bronze with a time of 13.24 seconds.
Hill's triumph adds to Jamaica's growing medal tally at the World U20 Championships. Earlier in the week, Alana Reid secured gold in the 100m final, leading a Caribbean sweep of the medals. Reid's victory was followed by Adaejah Hodge of the British Virgin Islands, who took silver, and Kishawna Niles of Barbados, who claimed the bronze.
With Hill's win, Jamaica has now captured two gold medals at the championships, continuing the country's tradition of excellence in sprinting and hurdling on the global stage. As the World U20 Championships continue, Jamaica's young athletes are poised to add to their medal count, showcasing the depth of talent in the Caribbean region.
On a day when Jamaica celebrated the 60th anniversary of its independence, Hill, the gold-medal favourite uncorked a blistering time of 12.77 to fulfil expectations.
It was her second gold medal of the World U20 Championships as she was a member of Jamaica's 4x100m team that set a world record 42.59 on Friday night.
Her compatriot Alexis James was also impressive securing the silver medal in a new personal best of 12.87. It was her third lifetime best in a matter of days. She ran 13.04 in the heats and 12.94s in the semi-finals.
Hungary’s Hannah Toth ran a national U20 record of 13.00 for the bronze medal.
Jamaica won two more medals on the final day following silver medal runs in the 4x400m relays.
The team of Dejanea Oakley, Abigail Campbell, Oneika McAnuff and Alliah Baker ran a season-best 3:31.59 to finish second to the USA who ran 3:28.06 for the gold medal.
Great Britain (3:31.86) took the bronze.
Jamaica’s men aided by an outstanding anchor leg from Delano Kennedy, powered their way into a podium spot in 3:05.72, finishing behind the USA, who won in a season-best 3:04.47.
Shemar Palmer, Shaemar Uter and Jasauna Dennis were the other members of the team.
Canada finished third in a national U20 record of 3:06.50.
Kennedy was fifth on the final handover and surged past the field to win Jamaica a national record 16th medal of the championships, the most by any team in Cali.
It was the highest number of medals ever won by Jamaica at the World U20 Championships topping the 12 medals won at the 2018 championships in Tampere, Finland.
Jamaica won six gold, seven silver and three bronze medals at the championships, one more than the United States, whose 4x400m victories saw them win seven gold, four silver and four bronze medals.
Kerr, who won the long jump for St. Jago High School at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships in May, jumped a personal best 7.90m to end up among the medals.
Erwan Konate of France won gold with a World U20 leading mark of 8.12m while Colombia’s Jhon Andres Berrio set a new national U20 record of 7.97 to take the silver medal.
Jamaica is in line to win additional medals as Ackera Nugent was the fastest into the finals of the 100m hurdles along with compatriot Oneka Wilson. Nugent, who hold the World U18 record and shares the WU20 record, clocked 13.02 to easily advance to the finals. The 13.02 Nugent ran was equalled by Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, the younger sister of Tokyo 2020 Olympic 100m and 200m finalist Mujinga Kambundji.
Wilson, meanwhile, ran a personal best 13.39 to advance to the final.
In the 110m hurdles, Vashaun Vascianna cruised in his semi-final that he won in a season-best 13.35s. However, he was not nearly as impressive as Frenchman Sasha Zhoya, who stormed to a new record of 12.93, smashing the time of 12.99 that was jointly held by France’s Wilhem Belocian and Jamaica’s Damion Thomas.
Briana Williams also lost her 200m championship record as the Namibian pair of Christine Mboma and 100m silver medalist Beatrice Masilingi, who took turns at lowering it today. Mboma first took Williams’ 22.50 set in Tampere, Finland in 2018 down to 22.41 before Masilingi lowered it further to 22.19.
Those semi-final performances threw down a challenge to Brianna Lyston and Alliyah Richards, who ran personal best times of 23.18 and 23.70, respectively to also advance to the finals.
NACAC announced on Thursday that the 2021 Carifta Games are to be held in Bermuda from August 13-15 due to the Caribbean Examinations Council setting the 2021 external examination dates from June 14-July16. Those dates overlap with the previous dates of July 2-4 for the Carifta Games.
Responding to whether fewer athletes would turn out for the Games because of how close they were to the World Championships, Sands said it was a concern, it was also an opportunity.
“That is a fix that we cannot resolve other than the fact that it does two things; one, countries are going to have to make a determination where their athletes will compete, but having said that we must understand that for the Carifta Games there is not a set qualifying standard,” he said.
“What you may have is that individual member federations have standards for their athletes to achieve, and so as opposed to the World U20 championships where there is a set standard, and so the question remains, how many of our area athletes would make those standards, particularly those from the smaller countries that may have a number of athletes making the standards for the world event.
“If that is the case, it now means that the member federations would have to make a determination whether some of their athletes go to Carifta and the qualifiers go to the WorldU20 championships.”
That scenario, he suggested, opened the door for a “second level of athletes that may not have qualified” for the global championships but who would become available for the 49th edition of the regional youth championships.
He cited athletes from Jamaica, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados who would be among those benefitting from the situation.
Garth Gayle, President of the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA), on the prompting of the NACAC president said his federation would be reviewing the matter carefully with the intention of sending its very best athletes to both competitions.
“President Sands, the options that you have put forward would have been very clear to us but let me say from the get-go the JAAA will be supporting both events. We are Caribbean and therefore Carifta is critical to us and to youth development,” Gayle said.
“We are also part of the global stage and so our elite junior athletes would also have that option to move onto the world event. We believe it is doable and we do not see a major issue.”
He said the athlete and his or her coach would essentially choose which event they would want to compete in.
Since it's inception in 1972, Jamaica has won the Carifta Games on more than 40 occasions.
Clayton ran a lifetime best and new national U20 record of 10.95 to claim gold ahead of teammate and schoolmate Serena Cole who clocked 11.14 for the silver medal. American Shanti Jackson ran a personal best 11.15 for the bronze medal.
Clayton won her first U20 title in Nairobi, Kenya in 2019.
Earlier, Brian Level advanced to the finals of the men’s 200m. Level won his heat in a new lifetime best of 20.34.
In the final, he will face the 100m champion Letsile Tebogo of Namibia, who set a WorldU20 record of 9.91 in the final of the 100m on Wednesday. Jamaica’s Bouwahgjie Nkrumie ran a new national U20 record of 10.02 for the silver medal.
Jamaica has won five medals so far at these championships.
There was a surprise winner in the 110m hurdles with Bahamas’ Antoine Andrews taking the gold in a World U20 leading 13.23.
He capitalized massively after gold medal favourite Matthew Sophia crashed into the final hurdle and stumbled across the line in third in 13.34, having to take solace in the fact that he set a national U20 record.
The USA’s Malik Mixon clocked a personal best of 13.27 for the silver medal.
The talented Edwin Allen High School star who turned 17 on Tuesday, got a good start and powered away from the field that Namibian teen Beatrice Masalingi, who won the silver medal in 11.39s.
Switzerland’s Melissa GutSchmidt ran 11.51 to take the bronze medal.
Clayton’s teammate Kerrica Hill finished seventh in 11.61.
Clayton win keeps 100m U209 title in Jamaica as Briana Williams won the 100m in Tampere, Switzerland in 2018.
Meanwhile, Cuba’s Juan Carley Vasquez Gomez won the shot put competition with a throw of 19.73m, edging Yauheni Bryhi of Belarus, who throw a personal best 19.70m for the silver medal. Jepthe Vogel of Switzerland won the bronze medal with his best effort of 19.16m.
Jamaica’s entrant in the competition, Kobe Lawrence threw 18.32m and finished eighth.
A fast-finishing Cole powered home to come in behind compatriot and high school teammate Tia Clayton, who stopped the clock in a championship record of 10.95. Cole finished a respectable 11.14 for second spot.
The athlete is, however, also a strong competitor in the long jump event and in fact, claimed the title at the Caribbean’s Carifta Games earlier this year. Despite not competing in the event at the U-20 World Championships due to a scheduling conflict, she has no intention of giving it up.
“It (Long Jump) was going to be right in the time of the 100m so my coach said I shouldn’t do it this year,” Cole explained.
“Last year I was supposed to be in the 100m but had some difficulties in my season, so I didn’t get a chance but I came out and did my best this year and I am so proud of my performance,” she added.
Heading back to high school in September, however, the athlete will return to her preferred long jump event with a view to balancing it with the sprints.
“Right now, my pet event is the long jump. I really prefer the long jump to the 100m. Going back to training, I know coach Jeremy will have a lot of programs for me to do with the long jump and the same with coach Dyke. So, I just have to put everything into the programs and train really hard.”
Cole has a personal best of 6.36m in the long jump.
