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• Beckford advances in high jump, Knight-Wisdom, a reserve in diving, Otabor misses out on javelin final

  Day 7 of the Track and Field events at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games saw a mixed bag of results for Caribbean athletes. While Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford and Yona Knight-Wisdom had commendable performances, the Bahamas’ Rhema Otabor faced disappointment in the women’s javelin throw.

  Beckford Advances to Men’s High Jump final

  Jamaica's Romaine Beckford emerged as the standout performer in the men's high jump qualification rounds, securing his place in the finals. Beckford cleared 2.24m in Group B, placing third in the group and eighth overall. Despite none of the athletes meeting the automatic qualification standard of 2.29m, Beckford's performance was strong enough to earn him a spot in the final, scheduled for August 10.

  Meanwhile, it was a challenging day for the Bahamas' Donald Thomas, who failed to register a mark in Group A and was unable to advance. The qualification round was led by Shelby McEwen of the United States, who cleared 2.27m.

   Knight-Wisdom a reserve in Men’s 3m Springboard final

  In the men's three-metre springboard semi-finals, Jamaica's Yona Knight-Wisdom delivered an impressive performance, finishing 13th overall with a total score of 412.40 points. This placed him as a reserve for the final, prepared to step in if any of the top 12 qualifiers are unable to compete.

  Knight-Wisdom showcased his diving prowess with a series of six dives, highlighted by his highest-scoring dive, the Forward 3½ Somersaults in Pike position, which earned him 74.40 points. Other notable dives included the Forward 2½ Somersaults 2 Twists in Pike position (73.10 points) and the Forward 2½ Somersaults 1 Twist in Pike position (72.00 points). His overall consistency secured his 13th place finish and a potential spot in the finals set for August 8.

  Bahamas’ Otabor does not advance in Women’s Javelin Throw

  In the women’s javelin throw, the Bahamas' Rhema Otabor will not advance to the next round. Otabor placed 13th in Group A with a throw of 57.67m, resulting in a 27th place overall finish, which was not sufficient to meet the qualification standard of 62m.

  Despite the setback, Otabor’s career achievements at the age of 21 are noteworthy. She has already claimed the 2024 NCAA championship, the 2023 Pan American Games silver medal, and the 2023 NACAC U23 title. Additionally, she earned a bronze medal at the 2022 NACAC Championships and finished fourth in the 2021 World U20 Championships.

  Poland's Maria Andrejczyk led the qualification round with a season-best throw of 65.52m, setting the bar high for the competition.

   

• Refuelled passion: Ja's Shanice Beckford prolongs career as fire for netball rekindled by West Coast Fever stint

  Shanice Beckford’s fairly successful debut season with West Coast Fever in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League has not only rekindled her passion for the sport but also strengthened her resolve to continue representing Jamaica on the international stage.

  Simply put, Beckford has found a new lease on life in her career.

  Prior to joining West Coast Fever, where the professional environment, high level of competition, and team camaraderie were just what she needed to lift her spirit, Beckford toyed with the idea of retirement. This, as the wear and tear of the sport in a career spanning over a decade, coupled with personal and professional challenges, had taken its toll.

  That, along with the fact that Beckford was convinced she had accomplished all she set out to, was among reasons why she was ready to walk away from the sport she first fell in love with as a teenager.

  “I was seriously considering hanging up my shoes because, at that point, I was struggling to find the motivation to play netball at all levels. I felt like I had reached a point where I couldn't give it anymore,” Beckford shared.

  “But I am now feeling more motivated than before after experiencing the game at a new level. Every week in the SSN felt like a grand final and that reignited my passion for the game, so sometimes it just takes a change of scenery and a competitive atmosphere to get back in the right frame of mind because it definitely reminded me of why I fell in love with netball in the first place,” she told Sportsmax.TV from her base in Perth, Australia.

  

  While her task on the star-studded Fever cast was to play a supporting role for compatriot and decorated goal-shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Beckford’s agility, sharp shooting, and strategic play were not to be outdone.

  In fact, those attributes not only made her a standout player in the league, but the goal-attack quickly became a fan favorite and a key player for the Fever. The Perth-based franchise ended the season in third place as Adelaide Thunderbirds—the team of Jamaicans Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, Latanya Wilson, and Romelda Aiken-George—retained their crown.

  Beckford registered 100 goals from 151 attempts, complemented by four intercepts, nine deflections, four rebounds, and 678 Nissan Net Points in 16 games played for the Dan Ryan-coached franchise.

  “I believe that my performances exceeded both my coach's and my own expectations. Personally, being in this high-functioning, high-performance environment has greatly contributed to my development and assisted me in unlocking the next level of my game.

  “From a team perspective, I feel that my role as a team player, bringing a unique skillset, has been invaluable to our collective efforts and was great to work with. The level of competitiveness in the team ensured that every game felt like a new opportunity to prove myself, so I am very pleased considering it was my debut season,” Beckford noted.

  Still, the 29-year-old, like any athlete who aspires to greatness, knows there is much to improve on.

  

  “I've always known that embarking on this new journey would present significant challenges for me. It's an unfamiliar environment and a step up from what I'm used to. Throughout the season, I found it difficult to maintain consistency and awareness, and that resulted in a bit of a rollercoaster ride,” Beckford explained.

  She continued: “Nevertheless, I exerted maximum effort in every possible way to persevere and continue working diligently. This experience has taught me the lesson that during trying times, resilient individuals push through, and so I have to stay focused amidst the chaos.

  “So I know that there are always areas for me to constantly improve on, and the biggest one for me would be consistency because for any player, continued improvement is crucial. Although I maintained a positive mindset, I am aware of specific areas I need to enhance in order to remain competitive and consistent throughout the season.”

  Whether she will be retained by West Coast Fever is left to be seen, but Beckford is optimistic about staying with the club for the foreseeable future.

  “The evaluation process is currently underway where the club determines which players will be re-signed, so I am not sure what the outcome will be, but I would love to continue playing in SSN,” Beckford stated.

  “If it doesn’t work out, then I will leave knowing I gave it my all and had a wonderful experience, one that I'm grateful for. The league offers unparalleled exposure and experience, and I am confident that I will be better prepared to handle the upcoming season because I’m playing with a renewed sense of purpose and joy,” she added.

  By all indications, Beckford’s positive experience with the Fever will certainly spill over on the international stage, as she has committed to the next four-year cycle with the Sunshine Girls with hopes of adding to her three Commonwealth Games medals, three Fast5 medals, and one Netball World Cup medal.

  

  The soft-spoken player’s first assignment will be a home-and-away series against England in November, where she aims to not only display her improved skills and strategies but also a renewed enthusiasm that is contagious.

  “Playing in the Super Netball (SSN) league has significantly influenced how I plan to approach the upcoming international games. It has provided me with valuable experience and insights, shaping my mindset and enhancing my performance. The opportunity to compete at such a high level consistently is a great feeling, and I am confident that this experience will greatly contribute to my level of readiness for the England series, should I be chosen to participate,” Beckford stated.

  “So I am really looking forward to it, but my goal is to be selected first and then get stuck back into national training because I am committing to the next four-year cycle to focus on playing some great netball and being courageous. I'm also excited to work with a former teammate [Sasher-Gaye Henry], who is now head coach for the Sunshine Girls,” she ended.

• Coach Floreal’s words of encouragement help propel Ackelia Smith’s into long jump final

  Ackelia Smith is through to the final of the long jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Smith soared out to a mark of 6.59m to advance to the next round. The performance came on the heels of receiving heartfelt words of encouragement from her coach, Eldrick Floreal, after securing a seventh-place finish in the women's triple jump on Saturday.

   Floreal, proud of Smith’s accomplishments, whispered to her after her final jump, "I'm proud of where you are currently, and I know you have the potential to medal. We just have to keep training and perfecting all the small stuff," Smith has revealed.

  Smith, who turned professional shortly after winning both the long jump and triple jump titles at the NCAA Championships in June, achieved her best mark of 14.42m on her sixth and final jump. Reflecting on her Olympic debut, she expressed pride in her performance.

  "I think it was a great effort," Smith said. "Not the best series, but only one good jump mattered. I was able to get one good jump to get to the finals, one to get to the top eight, and eventually one to get to seventh place. I have one more event here at the Olympics, and we're going to work together to get the most out of it," she said.