The Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Hungary on Tuesday proved to be an excellent day for Caribbean athletes.

The star of the day, however, was reigning Olympic 400m champion, Steven Gardiner.

The Bahamian, unbeaten since 2017, produced a world-leading 43.74, the second-fastest time of his career, to win ahead of Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald and American Vernon Norwood.

McDonald ran a massive season’s best 44.03 in second while Norwood’s time in third was 44.63.

In the women’s equivalent, Commonwealth champion Sada Williams ran a season’s best-equaling 50.34 to take the win ahead of Romania’s Andrea Miklos (50.80) and Austria’s Susanne Gogl-Walli (50.87). Charokee Young was sixth in 51.35.

Moving to the 100m where NCAA champion Julien Alfred, on her professional debut, got her usual good start and held her nerve to maintain her unbeaten record this season with a 10.89 effort. The former Texas star handed Sha’Carri Richardson (10.97) her first loss of the season while Tamari Davis was third with 11.02.

It was a Jamaican sweep in the men’s equivalent, with Yohan Blake producing his second consecutive good performance since a disappointing Jamaican Championships last week.

The 2011 World Champion ran 10.04 to win ahead of Ackeem Blake (10.09) while Rohan Watson, Jamaica’s national champion, was third in 10.10.

Defending World Champion and fastest woman alive in the 200m, Shericka Jackson, bounced back from a 100m defeat at the Silesia Diamond League on Sunday to run 22.03 to take the 200m ahead of Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke (22.36) and Bahamian Anthonique Strachan (22.45).

The men’s equivalent produced an upset as the Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando ran 19.99 to take the event ahead of American teenage sensation, Erriyon Knighton (20.05) and Jamaican national champion, Andrew Hudson, who ran 20.36 in third. Julian Forte was fourth in 20.41.

Reigning Olympic 110m hurdles champion, Hansle Parchment, was narrowly beaten by American Daniel Roberts in the men’s sprint hurdles.

Roberts’ winning time was 13.12, just .02 seconds faster than Parchment in second and Tyler Mason in third.

Andrenette Knight led a Jamaican 1-2-3-4 sweep in the women’s 400m hurdles.

Knight, who lost to Janieve Russell at the Jamaican National Championships last week, turned the tables this time around with a near flawless race to win in a new personal best 53.26.

Russell ran a season’s best 53.72 in second while Rushell Clayton, who will also be on Jamaica’s team in Budapest, ran a season’s best 53.79 for third. Shiann Salmon ensured that Jamaicans occupied the first four places with 55.04 in fourth.

In the field, 2019 World Champion and Jamaica’s national record holder, Tajay Gayle, finished second in the long jump.

Gayle’s best distance, 8.24m, had him in the lead until the final round when Greek Olympic Champion, Miltiadis Tentoglu, produced a winning jump of 8.29m. The USA’s Jarrion Lawson was third with 7.97m.

Jamaican Romaine Beckford, a double 2023 NCAA champion in the high jump with South Florida, has signed with Arkansas and will be part of the Razorback squad for the 2023-24 season.

Beckford recently won the high jump title at the 2023 Jamaica Championships with a mark of 7-3.75 (2.23). He will represent Jamaica at the NACAC U23 Championships this week in Costa Rica and currently is in position to qualify for the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

A double 2023 NCAA champion in the high jump with marks of 7-5.25 (2.27) outdoors and 7-4.25 (2.24) indoors, Beckford set South Florida school records with his outdoor career best at the NCAA Championships as well as his indoor best of 7-5 (2.26) to win the 2023 American Athletic Conference meet.

In the 2023 American Athletic Conference outdoor meet, Beckford won the high jump (7-1.5 | 2.17) as well as the javelin with a career best throw of 194-10 (59.38). The 2023 outdoor season included a victory at Penn Relays (7-1.75 | 2.18) as well as finishing runner-up at Mt. SAC Relays (7-2.5 | 2.20) and winning the Florida Relays (7-4.25 | 2.24).

Beckford finished as runner-up in the 2022 Penn Relays high jump with a 7-3.75 (2.23) clearance prior to claiming the AAC Outdoor title (7-1.75 | 2.18). He won the 2022 AAC Indoor high jump with a 7-2.5 (2.20) clearance. Beckford represented Jamaica in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, placing eighth.

In junior college at South Plains, Beckford won the 2021 NJCAA Outdoor high jump while also competing in discus and javelin. At NJCAA Indoor, Beckford won the high jump and finished 10th in heptathlon (4,182 points). At the 2020 NJCAA Indoor, he finished second in the high jump.

The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAA) have named the country’s teams for the NACAC under-18 and under-23 championships scheduled for July 21-23 at the San Jose National Stadium in Costa Rica.

Jamaica will be sending 35 athletes in the under-18 section and 31 in the under-23 section.

Among the selections in the Under-18 Girls section are Jamaica’s newly-crowned Under-18 and Under-20 100m champions, Abigail Wolfe and Theianna-Lee Terrelonge, while Jamaica’s under-18 boys and Carifta Under-17 champion, Tramaine Todd, headlines the Boys team.

The Under-23 Girls are headlined by national junior discus record holder, Cedricka Williams, while newly crowned national Under-20 double-sprint champion, Javorne Dunkley, headlines the Under-23 Boys.

The teams are as follows:

Under-18 Girls: Briana Campbell, Sabrina Dockery, Shanoya Douglas, Canelia Hope, Chennai Jarrett, Rhianna Lewis, Able Mills, Shamoyea Morris, Jaeda Robinson, Rohanna Sudlow, Shelley Ann Taylor, Theianna-Lee Terrelonge, Abigail Wolfe, Abrina Wright

Under-18 Boys: Benjamin Berry, Rashid Bowen, Kaheim Carby, Gary Card, Michael-Andre Edwards, Anthony Hall, Shavan Jarrett, Romario Jibbison, Jabari Matheson, Ainsley McGregor, Joel Morgan, Chavez Penn, Antonio Powell, Joseph Salmon, Javonte Smith, Trevoy Smith, Tramaine Todd, Omarie Williamson, Joshua Wint, Daneil Wright

Under-23 Girls: Shana Kaye Anderson, Shaquena Foote, Mickaell Moodie, Crystal Morrison, Rhianna Phipps, Joanne Reid, Danielle Sloley, Garriel White, Cedricka Williams, Damali Williams

Under-23 Boys: D’Andre Anderson, Zandrion Barnes, Romaine Beckford, Javorne Dunkley, Demar Francis, Jehlani Gordon, Jaheem Hayles, Reheem Hayles, Delano Kennedy, Adrian Kerr, Kavian Kerr, Kobe Lawrence, Bryan Levell, Alexavier Monfires, Ralford Mullings, Gregory Prince, Jordan Turner, Enrique Webster, Travis Williams, Assinie Wilson, Jordani Woodley

Sha’Carri Richardson went 2-0 against Shericka Jackson this season after storming to victory in the 100m at the Silesia Diamond League meeting in Poland on Sunday. The American, who remains unbeaten over 100m this season chased down Jackson, nipping the Jamaican at the line to win in a time of 10.76.

Jackson, celebrating her 29^th birthday on Sunday and who ran a world-leading 10.65 to win the Jamaican championships a week ago, clocked in at 10.78. Poland’s Ewa Swoboda ran a personal best of 10.94 for third place.

“It was an amazing race, I am really having fun,” an excited Richardson said afterwards.

“The 10.76 - I love the time. I put a great race together. This was a great competition, it was amazing. I executed correctly. I love the atmosphere here. I wish we could replicate this to the US. All the energy, all the love from the audience. I was satisfied with my race altogether.”

It wasn’t a particularly good day for Caribbean athletes nonetheless the eighth Diamond League meeting of the season delivered plenty of outstanding performances considering that the World Championships are less than five weeks away.

Chief among those performances was the meet record 44.08s South Africa’s Wayde Van Niekerk unleased on a quality field in the 400m. Demonstrating his best form since his return from a career-threatening knee injury in 2017, the South African has Brazil’s Alison dos Santos, himself returning from recent knee surgery, for company up to 300m before the 31-year-old Olympic champion went full throttle down the home stretch putting daylight between himself and the rest of the field.

Bayapo Ndori of Botswana finished strong to slip by the Brazilian and crossed the finish line in a personal best 44.61. Dos Santos, the 2022 World 400m hurdles champion settled for third in a season-best 44.73.

Van Niekerk expressed his satisfaction with the race.

“Things are moving in a positive direction. I have been able to train consistently. It is my fastest run in seven years and 44.0 shows that 43 seconds is possible,” he said.

“The competition in my event is getting stronger, so I need to work to get better as well. I do not feel any special pressure, but it is natural for an athlete to want to reach their best possible level. I will be going on to London now and then want to get some good training sessions before the World Championships.”

Earlier, Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek delivered a similarly devastating performance in the women’s race that she won in a new lifetime best of 49.48 which was also a new meet record.  Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands also showed she was in good form heading into the world championships clocking in a time of 49.81, which was just shy of Femke Bol’s previous meet record of 49.75.

Marileidy Paulino, the World Championship silver medalist, uncharacteristically outrun over the first 300 metres, stormed through the field late to finish third in 50.00.

Jamaica’s Candice McLeod ran a season’s best 50.19 for fourth just ahead of Barbados’ Commonwealth Games champion, Sada Williams fifth, also in a season’s best 50.34.

 The 100m hurdles was another thrilling affair that saw World Champion Tobi Amusan winning in a season-best and new meet record 12.34 to edge Kendra Harrison, the former world record holder, who finished second in 12.35.

Newly crowned USA champion Nia Ali ran a time of 12.38 for third place.

Breaking down her performance afterwards, Amusan revealed the challenges she has faced while competing this season.

“It was not easy for me with injuries in my hamstring and my knee. But I trusted in my coach and my work,” said the Nigerian who is coached by Jamaican Olympian Lacena Golding-Clarke.

“It is all about the process. I just won this in a smooth style, I was just running. Honestly, I had no idea that I won when I crossed the finish line.”

In reference to the upcoming world championships, Amusan said she was not looking too far ahead.

“I take it one step after the next. I knew it was going to be a battle until the finish line. I am happy to compete against the best. I am just out here doing well. I came out there I was not feeling too good. About my start - I would not say that I executed, but the second part of the race was really good. I am most definitely building up for the World Championships, extremely satisfied with my season-best, one step at a time.

Jamaican champion Megan Tapper was the best placed Caribbean athlete. She finished fourth in 12.49, her second fastest time ever, after the 12.44 she ran at Jamaica’s National Championships a week ago.  Danielle Williams, the 2015 world champion was fifth in a season-best 12.55.

Natoya Goule has been running well all season and she produced another season-best performance to finish third in the 800m. The Jamaican champion ran 1:57.90 but was not fast enough to get by Uganda’s Hallimah Nakaayi who set a new national record of 1:57.78.

However, both women were outrun by Kenya’s Mary Moraa, who sped a new meet record and season-best time of 1:56.85, which sets her up as a legitimate medal contender in the event at Budapest next month.

American Fred Kerley lost his first 100m this season, finishing second to Akani Simbini in a closely contested race in which 0.02 separated the top four finishers. The South African ran 9.97 to Kerley’s 9.98, which was the same time given to Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme.

The USA’s 100m champion Cravont Charleston finished fourth in 9.99.

Yohan Blake, the 2017 World Champion, was fourth in 10.01, his best time this season.

Yulimar Rojas was once again dominant the women’s triple setting a world-leading mark of 15.18m, which was also new meet record and season’s best.

Ukraine’s Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk came late to the party with a leap of 14.70m which gave her second place while bumping Cuba’s Leyanis Perez-Hernandez, second for most of the competition, down to third.

Jamaican champion Shanieka Ricketts’ season-best jump of 14.56m saw her finish fifth while Dominica’s Thea LaFond was sixth with 14.43m.

The Tyler Mason renaissance continued in Poland Sunday when he took third-place in a close finish in the 110m hurdles at the Silesia Diamond League meeting.

Mason, who was fourth at the Jamaica national championships last weekend, in 13.22 to just miss out on making Jamaica’s team to the 2023 World Athletic Championships, clocked 13.29, narrowly losing out to Cuba’s Roger Iribarne, who won the event in 13.25 and Frenchman Just Kwaou-Mathey, 13.27.

In finishing third, Mason placed better than former NCAA champion Trey Cunningham and Daniel Roberts, who ran times of 13.36 and 13.90 for fourth and seventh, respectively.

Last week, Shericka Jackson became the joint-fifth fastest woman of all-time when she sped to a new personal best of 10.65 seconds to win her second consecutive Jamaican 100m title.

Jackson, the fastest woman alive in the 200m and the reigning World Champion in the distance, also won the 200m at the Jamaican National Championships in 21.71, a season’s best.

On Sunday, she will compete in her first race since those championships when she lines up in a stacked 100m field at the Silesia Diamond League meet in Poland.

The field will include the likes of US 100m champion, Sha’Carri Richardson, British 200m champion Darryl Neita and Jackson’s countrywoman and third-place finisher at the Jamaican Championships, Shashalee Forbes. Twanisha Terry, Ewa Swoboda, Anthonique Strachan, Gina Luckenkemper and Zoe Hobbs complete the line-up.

Jackson explained her decision to compete in the 100m at tomorrow’s meet in a press conference on Saturday.

“As I said at the Jamaica Trials, it was to focus on the 100m and I think I mastered that so I’m just building from there,” Jackson said.

“I’m hoping to execute a good 100m tomorrow and see the result. The field is really good so it’s just to focus on my lane and execute. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a good day and if the weather stays as it is now, anything is possible,” she added.

As is customary when someone produces a time as fast as 10.65, Jackson was asked about the prospect of breaking Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 34-year-old world record 10.49.

“I think anything is possible,” Jackson said.

“For me, I don’t limit what I’m capable of, not because I started sprinting two years ago. I think I am capable of anything and once my coach and I work on the weak parts and continue to work on the strong parts, I think anything is possible,” Jackson added.

Jamaica’s Nayoka Clunis threw a personal best 71.18m to finish second in the women’s hammer throw at the 2023 Harry Jerome Track Classic in Langley, Canada on Friday.

Clunis, who won her fourth Jamaican hammer throw title last week, entered the meet with a personal best of 71.13m done in June. She is getting ever so close to the automatic World Championship qualifying distance of 73.60m.

On Friday, the 27-year-old was beaten by Canadian World Championships silver medalist and Commonwealth champion, Camryn Rodgers, who threw 76.12m while the USA’s Jill Shippee threw 70,83m for third.

Clunis’ countrywoman and this year’s silver medalist at the CAC Games, Erica Belvit, was fourth with 68.90m.

Elsewhere, Lloydricia Cameron threw 17.14m for second in the shot put behind Canadian Commonwealth champion, Sarah Mitton’s 19.83m. The USA’s Rachel Fatherly was third with 17.02m.

On the track, Adidas’ Shane Brathwaite ran 13.65 for second in the men’s 110m hurdles behind CYG Elite’s Louis Rollins (13.60). Jackson Cheung was third in 14.20.

Bahamian Shakeel Hall-Smith ran 49.25 to win the men’s 400m hurdles ahead of Roxroy Cato (50.02) and Justin Rose (51.51).

Rohan Watson, Sada Williams and Jonielle Smith were the Caribbean winners at Friday’s International Meeting of Athletics Solidarity Sport, a World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger meet in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy.

Watson, who shocked many Track and Field fans when he produced a personal best 9.91 to win the 100m title at Jamaica’s National Championships last week, ran 10.11 to take first place ahead of Liberia’s Emmanuel Matadi (10.17) and Cuba’s Yenns Fernandez (10.20).

Jonielle Smith ran 11.19 to lead a Jamaican 1-2-3 in the Women’s equivalent. Natasha Morrison, who finished second at the National Championships to book a place on Jamaica’s 100m team to Budapest, ran 11.25 for second while Krystal Sloley ran a personal best 11.41 in third.

Barbados’ Commonwealth Champion in the 400m, Sada Williams, ran a meet record and season’s best 50.80 to take the event ahead of Jamaican Charokee Young (51.13) and the USA’s Kaylin Whitley (52.01).

Jamaica’s national record holder in the 400m, Rusheen McDonald, ran a season’s best 44.83 to finish second behind Botswanan sensation Letsile Tebogo, who ran a personal best 44.75 to take the win. South African Lythe Pillay was third in 45.57.

In the field, Christoff Bryan produced a best jump of 2.19m for third in the high jump behind Italy’s Manuel Lando (2.25m) and Marco Fassinotti (2.22m).

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the legendary Jamaican sprinter, has signed a deal with Swiss luxury watch company Richard Mille. The 36-year-old, who is a five-time World Champion at 100m and two-time Olympic 100m gold medallist, signed a three-year deal with the esteemed watchmaker on July 1.

This is Fraser-Pryce's first international sponsor, outside of her shoe sponsor Nike. The deal will also help fund her Pocket Rocket Foundation which provides scholarships annually to Jamaican high-school student-athletes.

There are plans to have Fraser-Pryce wearing a Richard Mille watch when she takes to the track at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next month, where she will be vying for a record-extending sixth 100m title.

She joins such esteemed members of the Richard Mille family that includes Yohan Blake, Rafael Nadal, Wayde van Niekerk, Didier Drogba, and Fernando Alonso.

Over an illustrious career spanning almost two decades, Fraser-Pryce has established herself as arguably the greatest female sprinter of all time. In 2008, she became the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic 100m title. She followed up by winning the 100m title at the World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

She added a second Olympic 100m title in 2012, joining Wyoma Tyus and Gail Devers as the only women to have won consecutive Olympic titles. Her compatriot Elaine Thompson-Herah joined that pantheon at the Tokyo Olympics after winning her first 100m title in Rio, Brazil in 2016.

In Moscow in 2013, Fraser-Pryce became the first woman to win the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m at a World Championships. She added a fourth 100m title in Helsinki in 2015.

Despite a toe injury in 2016, Fraser-Pryce won a bronze medal in the 100m at the Rio 2016 Olympics and became the only woman to win medals in the 100m at three consecutive Olympic Games.

She gave birth to her son Zyon in 2017 after which she returned to the track in 2019 to win her fourth 100m world title in Doha, Qatar. She followed up with a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and extended her record when she became the only woman to win medals in the 100m at four consecutive Olympic Games.

She added to her incredible legacy at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon where she won the 100m in a championship record of 10.67 and because the first running athlete to win five gold medals in the same event at a World Championships. The Pocket Rocket then added a silver medal in the 200m, running 21.83 to finish behind compatriot Shericka Jackson who won gold in 21.45, the second-fastest time ever run by a woman over the distance.

That same year, Fraser-Pryce added to her already considerable legacy by running below 10.7 seconds for the 100m, a record seven times. She is the only woman ever to accomplish that feat.

This new deal with Richard Mille is a testament to Fraser-Pryce's status as one of the greatest athletes of all time. It is also a sign of her continued dominance in the world of sprinting. With this new partnership, Fraser-Pryce is sure to continue to inspire and amaze fans for years to come.

Yohan Blake and his management team have unequivocally denied any validity to a widely-circulated article stating that the 2011 World Champion will be taking legal action against the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) over a timer malfunction at the recently-concluded National Championships at the National Stadium.

The article which is said to have been published on Wednesday, July 12, derived from the fact that Blake ran by himself in an attempt to make the men’s 100 metres semi-finals, after he was initially disqualified for a false start.

During his run against the clock, Blake, the World’s second-fastest man over the distance was clocked at 10.32 seconds, which was not good enough to see him through to the next round.

While it was rumoured that the 33-year-old was not pleased with the time, his manager Timothy Spencer has since cleared the air.

“Yohan has no intention of suing anyone,” Spencer told Sportsmax.TV.

Blake, who is in Silesia, Poland also rubbished the 'report' stating, "I dont know where this is coming from. I have moved on already and I'm focussing on the races ahead of me. In my head I'm already thinking about 2024 and hope I can represent Jamaica in the Olympic Games in 2024 in Paris."

Meanwhile, when contacted JAAA’s president Garth Gayle said the article "is not credible because we have no official documentation."  

Jamaica's Olympic 110m hurdles champion, Hansle Parchment, expressed his enthusiasm for the young hurdlers coming up in the sport after his retirement.

At the Jamaican national championship that concluded on Sunday, July 9, Parchment ran a season-best time of 13.12 seconds, finishing second behind 22-year-old Commonwealth Games champion Rasheed Broadbell, who clocked a world-leading 12.94 seconds. In third place was another rising star, 23-year-old Orlando Bennett, with a season-best time of 13.19 seconds.

After the race, Parchment, 33, shared his thoughts on his performance and the future of Jamaican hurdling. He stated, "That's my season best, as you can see, I'm improving. I know I have a lot more work to do if I want to beat those young boys, and they will be there. I'm looking forward to competing with them and having some fun."

The field of hurdlers vying for places at the World Championships in Budapest in August also included Olympic bronze medallist Ronald Levy and former Jamaica College star Tyler Mason, 27, who ran 13.22 after resurrecting his career after years of challenges but missed out on a place to Budapest by 0.03s.

 Also in the field was 2023 NCAA champion 24-year-old Phillip Lemonious, who clocked 13.24 to win his first collegiate outdoor title in early June and former NCAA champion Damion Thomas, who is 24, and 23-year-old De’jour Russell.

When asked about the prospect of a new generation of hurdlers taking over once he steps aside as the Olympic champion, Parchment confidently replied, "Easily, that's nothing to think about. I know that everything is covered because these boys will dominate the world. I'm looking forward to seeing that as well."

Parchment acknowledged the increasing depth in Jamaican hurdling, stating, "For the past 3-4 years, it has become a lot more competitive. We see more people taking interest in the 110m hurdles and putting in serious work, showing the world the depth that we have."

Looking ahead, Parchment revealed his upcoming plans for further preparation and competition. "Next, I have a race in Budapest, a gold challenge, if I remember correctly. It should be on July 18th. If all goes well, I will be there," he shared.

Two-time Olympic 800 metres champion Caster Semenya is “elated” to have won her case at the European Court of Human Rights, saying the ruling had been “a long time coming”.

The 32-year-old South African – who won Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016 – was legally identified as female at birth, but has a condition which means her body naturally produces higher levels of testosterone than women without the condition.

Semenya has been unable to compete at her favoured distance since 2019, following the introduction of limits on testosterone levels for female athletes by World Athletics which would have forced her to use medication.

Earlier legal challenges at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Swiss Federal Court had been rejected.

However, on Tuesday, the ECHR found Switzerland had not afforded Semenya “sufficient institutional and procedural safeguards” to allow her to have her complaints examined effectively.

The court said because of the “high stakes” involved for Semenya, it “should have led to a thorough institutional and procedural review”.

Semenya had been unable to obtain such a review, therefore the ECHR was “unable to determine whether the DSD (differences in sex development) regulations, as applied in the applicant’s case, could be considered a measure that was objective and proportionate to the aim pursued (of protecting fair competition for female athletes”.

It said her complaints of discrimination as a result of World Athletics’ regulations were “substantiated and credible”.

The judgment does not bring into question DSD regulations, nor will it allow Semenya to compete over 800m, but Semenya believes it is a significant step in her continuing legal fight.

“The European Court of Human Rights ruled (on Tuesday morning) that I was discriminated against, that my human rights were violated and that there are ‘serious questions’ about the validity of the rules set out by World Athletics,” Semenya said on Wednesday in a statement via her legal team in South Africa.

“I am elated at the outcome of the ruling. It has been a long time coming. I have and will always stand up for discrimination of any kind in sports.

“I have suffered a lot at the hands of the powers that be and have been treated poorly.

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“The hard work that I have put in to being the athlete I am, has been questioned, my rights violated, my career impacted. All of it so damaging – mentally, emotionally, physically and financially.”

Semenya added: “Justice has spoken, but this is only the beginning.

“My case at the European Court of Human Rights was against the ruling handed down by the government of Switzerland, and not World Athletics itself, but this decision will still be significant for all sportspersons in throwing doubt on the future of all similar rules.

“My hope is that Word Athletics, and indeed all sporting bodies, reflect on the statements made by the European Court of Human Rights and ensure that they respect the dignity and human rights of the athletes they deal with.”

The seven ECHR judges found by a majority of four to three that Semenya’s rights under article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which concerns discrimination, had been violated by Switzerland.

The Swiss state was also found to have violated article 13 in not providing Semenya effective remedy against discrimination.

World Athletics released a statement on Tuesday saying its regulations were “a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of protecting fair competition in the female category”.

The governing body said it would encourage the Swiss state to refer the matter to the Grand Chamber of the ECHR for a final judgment.

Sanya Richards-Ross is adding another member to her family after a long journey.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 38, is expecting her second baby, she reveals in the season 15 mid-season trailer for the series, released Friday.

Handing husband Aaron Ross a pregnancy test casually, he takes a closer look and says, "No way!"

"This is real?" he asks, to which she nods as she starts jumping up and down, cheering, "I'm pregnant!" before hugging everyone in the room.

The new arrival will join the couple's son Aaron Jermaine, who turns 6 next month.

During an episode of the Bravo series that aired last fall, the retired track-and-field star revealed that she made the decision to remove her IUD and work on baby No. 2 with the former NFL star, 40.

Richards-Ross was born in Kingston, Jamaica and began running at the age of seven before migrating to Florida at 12.

During her exemplary Track & Field career which ended in 2016, Richards-Ross was a four-time Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion.

Richards-Ross still holds the American record in the 400m with 48.70 done in 2006.

Ackera Nugent, the NCAA 100m hurdles champion, has made a significant decision in her athletic career. Despite still pursuing her degree, Nugent has chosen to go professional and embark on a new chapter in her journey as a track and field athlete.

Balancing her athletic aspirations with her commitment to education, Nugent remains determined to excel both on the track and in the classroom.

"I'm staying in school because I feel like getting my degree is very important. But I felt like me going back to college was not needed anymore because I've accomplished everything that I wanted to accomplish," Nugent said after confirming her four-year deal with the German sports apparel manufacturer.

"So the decision between me and my coaches was to take the next step to fulfill my purpose in sports. So we made the decision of going professional."

While completing her degree in Advanced Communication, Nugent will also dedicate herself to professional athletics. She recognizes the significance of continuing her education while pursuing her dreams on the track.

Nugent's decision to go professional signifies a new and exciting phase in her career. Guided by her trusted coach, Chris Johnson, Nugent has honed her skills and experienced remarkable growth as an athlete. Johnson's expertise and support have been instrumental in Nugent's development, allowing her to reach new heights in her discipline.

"I have had a huge growth, not only as an athlete but also as a person, and I think that played a major factor in making the transition from Baylor University to Arkansas, where Coach (Chris) Johnson has a lot of experience in getting athletes to where they need to go and knowing how to fix the little things," Nugent shared.

Her journey under Coach Johnson's guidance has been fulfilling, despite the challenges that come with pushing one's limits.

Following the collegiate indoor season, Coach Johnson revealed that Nugent also possesses great potential as a 100m sprinter but as she embraces the professional realm, she maintains a clear focus on the 100m hurdles.

While her versatility allows her to excel in other events, Nugent and Coach Johnson agree that channeling her energy into the hurdles will yield the best results.

“Coach Johnson wants me to trust my speed between the hurdles and I haven’t really reached my maximum potential with that yet,” explaining that running the flat race helps her with her speed.

“He’s trying to make me get comfortable with my flat speed and stuff like that. And, he’s like when you finally hit 10 (seconds) you’ll understand what it feels like to be faster between the hurdles, but it’s a learning experience. I am going into the professional world and I am a rookie.”

The 21-year-old made her first Jamaican senior team to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August after finishing second in a time of 12.67 behind Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper, who crossed the finish line in 12.64.

Danielle Williams, the 2015 World Champion qualified for her sixth World Championships appearance when she finished third in 12.82.

Coach Travis Geopfert of the University of Arkansas had every reason to be elated as his star jumpers, Wayne Pinnock and Carey McLeod, delivered outstanding performances at Jamaica's national championships on Saturday. Pinnock secured a remarkable victory with a leap of 8.32m, while McLeod claimed the third spot on the podium with a commendable mark of 8.20m. Both athletes showcased their exceptional talent and skills before their home crowd.

In a post-competition interview, Coach Geopfert expressed his satisfaction with the overall performance of his athletes. He acknowledged the challenging conditions caused by swirling winds but commended McLeod's ability to adapt and make adjustments to his approach, resulting in a solid jump.

"I was happy the way Carey worked on the transition of his approach and got a decent jump in at the end because it was a little all over the place," Geopfert shared.

"Turning his attention to Pinnock, Coach Geopfert couldn't contain his pride and admiration for the athlete's consistent excellence.

"I've been coaching for a long time, and I've never seen a 27-foot jump (8.23m) into a minus-two wind. I'm telling you, he's a special kid and really coachable," Geopfert remarked, highlighting Pinnock's exceptional abilities.

As both Pinnock and McLeod continue to impress with their performances, Coach Geopfert emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between training and competition as they approach the World Championships in Budapest in August.

"If there's a good opportunity (to compete) half-way in between, we'll do something, you know? If there's not, I'm not going to force it. We'll try to mimic stuff in practice. I think we do a really good job of that," Geopfert explained.

Looking beyond the national championships, Coach Geopfert shared his aspirations for Pinnock and McLeod as they prepare for the upcoming World Championships. He emphasized that their participation in the national championships was merely a stepping stone towards their ultimate goal of winning medals on the global stage.