As she establishes herself as a winner at the University of Minnesota, freshman athlete Abigail Schaaffe has her eye on a new objective.
Schaaffe, 20, a graduate of St Mary’s High School in Jamaica, is coming off a three-gold medal performance on the NCAA Indoor circuit that already has her in the university’s record books.
Last Friday at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational at the University of Iowa, she won the 600m in 1:30.99, a top-six all-time performance for UM. Then, on Saturday, she clocked 55.53 to win the 400m. She was also a member of her school’s mile relay team that also won gold at the meet in 3:40.93.
Her wins helped UM women win the team title with 129.5 points ahead of Nebraska’s 91.
With those medals in the bag, she is now aiming for something greater at the Big 10 championships coming up on February 25.
“I want to run sub 1:30 by the Big Ten Championship,” she told Sportsmax.TV earlier this week, “I aimed at it in my race last Friday but I’ll definitely be working towards it.”
The Kinesiology major believes breaking 1:30 is on the cards because of the speed at which she has been adjusting to running indoors and to living in Minnesota.
“Yes, it was challenging at first but as time progresses and I am constantly doing it I realize that I have adjusted so much better,” she said.
“My coach always compliments me on adjusting to the weather and my transition into their program so I think I am doing well in that aspect.”
In 2019, Schaaffe was third at the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships in Jamaica, in a personal best 2:08.83 behind standouts Charokee Young of Hydel High and Petersfield’s Shaquena Foote.
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
JAAA names 31-member World Relays team
Rising sprint sensations Ackeem Blake and Alana Reid have been included in a 31-member squad named by the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) to represent the island at the World Athletics Relays, scheduled for May 4 and 5 in Bahamas.
Jamaica’s athletes are expected to contest the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays, as well as the Mixed 4x400m relay, at the two-day spectacle which will take place at the refurbished Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.
Blake and Reid have been listed among the respective 4x100m relay pools, which also includes Kemba Nelson, Natasha Morrison, and reigning University champion Kadrian Goldson.
World Indoor bronze medallist Rusheen McDonald, World and Olympic relay medallist Janieve Russell, and World 400m hurdles finalist Roshawn Clarke, headline the pool for the 4x400m and Mixed 4x400m relays respectively.
Full team: Female 4x100m –Kemba Nelson, Alana Reid, Jodean Williams, Remona Burchell, Mickaell Moodie, Natasha Morrison, Yanique Dayle
4x400m & Mixed Relay –Stacey Ann Williams, Charokee Young, Leah Anderson, Ashley Williams, Junelle Bromfield, Janieve Russell, Tovea Jenkins, Roniesha Mcgregor
Male 4x100m –Ryiem Forde, Nigel Ellis, Bryan Levell, Kadrian Goldson, Odaine Mcpherson, Ackeem Blake, Javorne Dunkley
4x400m & Mixed Relay –Malik James-King, Rusheen Mcdonald, Zandrion Barnes, Roshawn Clarke, Demish Gaye, Anthony Cox, Karyme Bartley, Assinie Wilson, Sean Bailey
Management Team –Dennis May (Team Leader), Trevor Campbell (Team Official), Jennifer Brown (Team Official), Maurice Wilson (Technical Director), Paul Francis (Coach), Reynaldo Walcott (Coach), Mark Elliott (Coach), Yanique Weekes (Doctor), Garfield Simmonds (Medical)
Gardiner, Miller-Uibo headline 27-member Bahamas team for World Athletics Relays in Nassau
Olympic champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo were the standout names as the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) has officially confirmed its 27-member team for the World Athletics Relays set for May 4 and 5 at the refurbished Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium.
The Bahamas is expected to compete in the Men’s and Women’s 4x100m Relays, the Men’s 4x400m Relay and the Mixed 4x400m Relay.
Newly crowned World Indoor 60m champion and record holder Devynne Charlton was named in a Women’s 4x100m Relay pool which also included Camille Rutherford, Printassia Johnson, Jamiah Nabbie, Shayann Demeritte, Nia Richards, Charisma Taylor and Pedrya Seymour.
The Men’s 4x100m Relay pool consists of Samson Colebrooke, Samalie Farrington, Ian Kerr, Carlos Brown, Deedro Clarke, Blake Bartlett, Jeremiah Adderley and Warren Fraser.
The Men’s 4x400m Relay team includes Gardiner, Alonzo Russell, Wendell Miller, Zion Shepard, Deedro Clarke, Zion Miller, Lhevinne Joseph and Shakeem Hall-Smith. Finally,
The Mixed 4x400m Relay team for The Bahamas will consist of Miller-Ubio, Anthonique Strachan, Lacarthea Cooper, Robynn Rolle-Curry, Steven Gardiner, Alonzo Russell, Wendell Miller and Zion Shepherd.
The Bahamas hosted the World Athletics Relays in 2014, 2015 and 2017.
Lyles to headline Racers Grand Prix at National Stadium on June 1
Much like he did last year, American Noah Lyles, could set this year's sixth staging of the Racers Grand Prix alight, as he is expected to be among a host of world class superstars to grace the National Stadium on June 1.
Lyles, who clocked a superb 19.67s to win the 200m, sharing the spotlight with Jamaica's Shericka Jackson and South African Wayde Van Niekerk last year, could line up in the men’s 100m on this occasion.
Along with Lyles, rising Jamaican sensation Oblique Seville is also said to be in line to contest the explosive 100m.
Also expected to be in action are World University champion Kadrian Goldson, World Championships bronze medallist Zharnel Hughes, Canadian Aaron Brown and American Kendal Williams.
The announcement was made at the event's launch which is currently ongoing at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
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