On October 25, 2024, Fayetteville State University celebrated the remarkable career of Jamaican Olympian Inez Turner by bestowing upon her a Lifetime Achievement Award and inducting her into the 2024 Wall and Hall of Fame. Turner, the head coach of Track and Field and Cross Country at Fayetteville State, was recognized for her enduring contributions to athletics, her stellar coaching career, and her legacy as an elite competitor on the international stage. 

The induction ceremony, held at the John D. Fuller, Sr. Recreational Athletic Complex, was organized by Chairman Stephen Sims and his committee. Turner joined an esteemed group of inductees, including other former athletes, coaches, and the celebrated 2002 CIAA Championship Football Team, as they were formally enshrined into the institution’s Hall of Fame.

A native of Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, Turner’s journey in athletics began at Barton Community College, where she earned an impressive 16 National Junior College All-America honors and set multiple school records. In 1993, she captured the NJCAA Division I Championship in the 800m with a record-breaking 2:04.88, setting the stage for her future as an elite athlete. Representing Jamaica on the global stage, Turner competed in the 800m and 4x400m relay at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. She won gold in the 800m at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and a bronze in the 4x400m relay at the 1997 World Championships, adding to her collection of medals from the CARIFTA Games and CAC Junior Championships. 

Turner’s athletic achievements transitioned seamlessly into a coaching career beginning in 2004, with stints at New York Track Club and North Carolina A&T State University. As head coach at Winston-Salem State University, she led her teams to nine conference titles and was named CIAA Coach of the Year eight times. Her success continued upon joining Fayetteville State University in 2017, where she transformed the program into a powerhouse. Under her guidance, the women's cross country team secured six consecutive CIAA titles, while the indoor track & field team also excelled, capturing multiple championships. In total, Turner has led her teams to 23 CIAA Championship titles, each one cemented with a Coach of the Year honor.

Turner’s influence extends beyond the track, as evidenced by the Inez Turner Foundation, which she founded in 2012 to support disadvantaged students at her alma mater, Vere Technical High School. Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Texas State University, Turner’s dedication to empowering others reflects the purpose of Fayetteville State University’s Athletics Hall of Fame: honoring those who have made outstanding and significant contributions to the program.

 Turner’s recognition serves as a testament to her profound impact on the sport and the lives she has touched throughout her career. Her legacy, both as an athlete and a coach, will inspire generations to come, underscoring the power of commitment, resilience, and a passion for excellence.

St. Kitts Athletics (SKNA) has launched a four-day sports seminar focused on field events, led by renowned Grenadian throws coach Paul Phillip. With participation from 32 athletes and 26 coaches, the seminar aims to strengthen field events training and development on the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis.

 Phillip, who brings a wealth of experience in coaching top-tier throwing events, is guiding the seminar participants through intensive sessions designed to refine techniques in discus, shot put, and javelin. The program emphasizes foundational skills essential for athletes competing at the junior level and beyond.

 SKNA President Delwayne Delaney highlighted the strategic focus on field events as part of SKNA's broader commitment to developing a diverse range of athletic disciplines. “We have seen progress in the field events areas at the junior level and decided it was imperative we honed in this area at a youth and junior stage,” Delaney explained. “We intend to host additional workshops on hurdles and middle-distance events, following last year’s sprints seminar with Glen Mills.”

 The seminar underscores SKNA’s dedication to a holistic development approach, ensuring young athletes receive specialized training across multiple disciplines. The organization’s initiative continues to expand opportunities for athletes and coaches, with plans for more seminars and workshops in the near future.

Ardenne High School has launched its second annual Optima 5K Run/Walk, a major fundraising initiative to support the construction of a wellness centre on the school’s campus. The event, scheduled for Saturday, November 16, at 6:30 am, will be managed by Running Events Limited for the first time, with registration available through runningeventsja.com.

The 5K, organized by the Ardenne Alumni Foundation under the leadership of Chairperson Flo Darby, is the foundation’s largest fundraiser to date, with all proceeds going toward the wellness centre, which will be the first of its kind for a Jamaican high school. With a growing student population of over 2,000, Ardenne High sees the wellness centre as crucial for supporting both the physical and mental health of its students and staff.

“We are planning to build a wellness centre for Ardenne High School, a space that focuses on physical and emotional health,” said Darby. “We’ll have a nurse on site, as well as rooms for guidance counsellors, a part-time psychiatrist, psychologist, and social worker. It will be the first of its kind in Jamaica, improving the environment for our students.”

Current estimates place the cost of the wellness centre at J$64 million, with a targeted completion date before the school’s 100th anniversary in 2027.

Two Olympians, 400m specialist and past Ardenne student Brandon Simpson and decathlete Maurice Smith, attended the event launch to endorse the initiative. Smith, whose siblings attended Ardenne, will also join Simpson at the start line on November 16, encouraging fellow athletes and supporters to participate in the cause.

Alfred “Franno” Francis of Running Events Limited expressed his excitement for the project, noting the importance of fostering a healthy lifestyle. “We will try our best to execute a well-organized event, giving participants the support they need while raising funds for this exceptional cause,” he said. “This initiative is exemplary for other schools to follow, and we hope to see strong participation from current and past Ardenne students, along with anyone interested in health and wellness.”

The route, as outlined by Francis, will start on Ardenne Road, then proceed through Trafalgar Park, onto Trafalgar Road, and follow a path along Lady Musgrave Road to Vale Royal. The course then turns onto Upper Montrose Road, onto Seymour Avenue, and returns to Ardenne Road, where participants will cross the finish line.

Registration costs are J$2,000 for adults and J$1,500 for students, with proceeds directly benefiting the wellness centre.

Terrence Ram, the head boy at Ardenne, emphasized the need for the centre, explaining that expanded facilities will provide students with a safe place to connect, relax, and engage with guidance staff. “The Ardenne Wellness Centre will give students a space to interact with guidance counsellors, share their thoughts, and develop personally,” Ram said.

The launch was attended by several prominent supporters, including school principal Jacqueline Pinto, Ardenne Alumni Association President Dr. Winston De La Haye, alumni, foundation members, and representatives from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, including Takese Foga, Director of Health Promotion and Education.

The Ardenne Optima 5K Run/Walk is poised to bring together students, alumni, and community members in a meaningful effort to foster a culture of wellness at Ardenne High School and build a lasting resource for future generations.

Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) president, Christopher Samuda, has expressed understanding and empathy toward the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) as they face the challenge of hosting a scaled-down version of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

With the event, traditionally a grand celebration of sport, culture, and unity, being reduced in size due to economic pressures, Samuda acknowledges the difficulties facing the CGF while also stressing the need to find ways to address the impact this decision will have on several sports that have been cut from the programme.

Diving, rugby, squash, badminton, table tennis, hockey, triathlon, and cricket are among the sports that will not feature in the 2026 edition.

The CGF initially struggled to find a host after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew last year, before Glasgow, known for its rich sporting history as a host city—including hosting the 2014 edition of the game—stepped in to save the 2026 Games. However, this comes with the reality of hosting a more compact edition than previous iterations.

For Samuda, the situation is an unfortunate but understandable outcome in a global landscape.

“The circumstances in which the Commonwealth Games Federation unavoidably found itself inevitably led to a scaled-down edition of the games. I regret the exclusion of badminton, table tennis, squash, and hockey; for those sports, the Jamaica Olympic Association has earmarked for real transitioning. The CGF’s decision was clearly influenced by commercial factors and the economy of a diminished sporting agenda, for at the end of the day, the games must be viable to ensure sustainability,” Samuda said.

However, Samuda also noted that the decision to reduce the scope of the Games, which will see several sports omitted from the 2026 programme, raises important questions about the future of those disciplines within the Commonwealth sporting family.

He argued that the CGF must find ways to compensate the sports that have been excluded, as they are integral to the diversity and spirit of the Commonwealth Games.

“Going forward, however, the CGF has to develop a strategy that will compensate those sports that are being excluded so as not to lose the interest and confidence of their international federations, commercial partners, and most importantly, the players and athletes for whom sports exist,” he reasoned.

Despite the current challenges, Samuda remains optimistic about the future of the Commonwealth Games and the role it plays in uniting nations through sport. He sees the 2026 edition in Glasgow as an opportunity to innovate and adapt, ensuring that the Games remain relevant in a changing world.

The Games will feature a 10-sport programme across four venues within an eight-mile corridor, with more than 500,000 tickets made available for spectators.

Athletics and swimming are included as compulsory sports for 2026, while there will also be track cycling, gymnastics, netball, weightlifting, boxing, judo, bowls, and 3x3 basketball.

“It is critical that the next games, while being an economic reinvention, should retain that unique traditional value that has given many sports and invaluable space on the Commonwealth sporting agenda and which have made it competitive as a sporting and commercial product amidst growing competition for the partnership dollar and public viewership and appeal,” Samuda said.

Jereem Richards, the 2024 Paris Olympics 400m finalist, has expressed his excitement about joining the upcoming Grand Slam Track League, which is set to begin in April 2025. Richards, known for his strong performances under pressure, is eager to compete against the world’s best athletes in what promises to be a groundbreaking professional track and field series.

“I like competition. My best performances have always come when the stakes were high, the best athletes were there, and it was a high-pressure, high-intensity type of race. I think that is what Grand Slam Track League brings,” Richards shared with FloTrack, highlighting the appeal of the league's elite competition format.

The Grand Slam Track League is a premier global professional track league, featuring head-to-head matchups between the fastest athletes in the world. The league will host four annual Slams from April to September, with eight Racers competing in one of 12 event groups. Four athletes will make the starting roster for each Slam, while four Challengers can earn their way into the field through recent performances.

Richards, who thrives in competitive environments, is thrilled to be part of the inaugural season. “I am definitely really excited. Big names are expected to sign up, and to be part of the big names in such a prestigious track meet means a lot to me,” he said. "Matthew Hudson-Smith and other Olympians will be there. Everybody that’s running fast is going to be there, so I’m just excited to be part of it and to be part of history.” Olympic champion Quincy Hall and Muzala Samukonga have also been signed to the league.

The league offers the largest prize pool in the history of track and field, with athletes competing for a total prize money pool of $400,000 over the course of the season. Points will be awarded based on finishing positions, with the overall Slam champion receiving $100,000. Prize money will be distributed from first place through eighth place, ensuring that every race matters.

Richards is expected to be a strong contender in the Grand Slam Track League, with his experience and competitive spirit positioning him among the favorites for the title. The league promises to deliver thrilling matchups and high-intensity races, with athletes competing twice over the weekend, and the combined placing determining the Slam champion.

Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton will get an opportunity to compete against the fastest women in the world consistently in the inaugural Grand Slam Track league next season.

Clayton was announced on Tuesday alongside fellow 400m hurdlers Shamier Little and Jasmine Jones, both from the USA, as one of the latest signees to Michael Johnson’s revolutionary new venture.

Clayton ran personal bests of 51.81 for 400m and 52.51 for the 400m hurdles this season.

She won the Diamond League series meets in Rabat and Oslo and captured the Jamaican 400m hurdles national title for the first time since 2019.

Clayton was fifth in the 400m hurdles Olympic final in Paris and is a two-time World Championship bronze medalist in the 400m hurdles from 2019 and 2023.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has confirmed Glasgow as the host city of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games will take place in Scotland from Thursday 23 July to Sunday 2 August 2026. Glasgow also hosted the games back in 2014. 

Glasgow 2026 will feature a 10-sport programme concentrated across four venues within an eight-mile corridor, ensuring an action-packed broadcast schedule across each day of competition and making the event accessible and appealing to spectators looking to enjoy the multi-sport environment and festival feel.

With over 500,000 tickets to be made available at a future date, there will be around 3,000 of the best athletes competing from up to 74 Commonwealth nations and territories that represent 2.5 billion people – one-third of the world’s population.

Para sport will once again be fully integrated as a key priority and point of difference for the Games, with six Para sports included on the sport programme.

The sports programme will include Athletics and Para Athletics (Track & Field), Swimming and Para Swimming, Artistic Gymnastics, Track Cycling and Para Track Cycling, Netball, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting, Boxing, Judo, Bowls and Para Bowls, and 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Wheelchair Basketball.

The Games will take place across four venues: Scotstoun Stadium, Tollcross International Swimming Centre, Emirates Arena – including the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, and the Scottish Event Campus (SEC). Athletes and support staff will be housed in hotel accommodation.

Commonwealth Games Federation CEO Katie Sadleir NZOM said, ‘’On behalf of the entire Commonwealth Sport Movement, we are delighted to officially confirm that the 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place in the host city of Glasgow. The Games promise to be a truly immersive festival of sport and celebration of culture and diversity that inspires athletes and sports – with a fan experience more accessible than ever before.”

Grand Slam Track has added more star power to its roster ahead of its inaugural season in 2025 with the signings of Daniel Roberts and Jereem Richards.

The USA’s Roberts took silver behind Grant Holloway in the 110m hurdles at the Paris Olympics while Trinidad & Tobago’s Richards was a finalist in the 400m, narrowly missing out on a medal with a national record 43.78 in fourth.

Roberts also took bronze at the 2023 World Championships. Reflecting on his career, Roberts said, “track has been my life for as long as I can remember, and it’s about always moving forward. Grand Slam Track feels like the right place to keep evolving as an athlete, and I’m ready to embrace that. I’m grateful for this opportunity and am excited to take my sport to new heights.”

Richards, who specializes in the 200m and 400m, is a two-time Olympian and 2022 World Indoor Championships gold medalist. He shared his perspective on the sport.

 “Every race is a chance to tell a story about where I’ve come from and where I’m going. Grand Slam Track is the perfect platform for that. It’s not just about winning; it’s about showing the world my journey, one race at a time. I’m proud to represent Trinidad and Tobago in Grand Slam Track™ and eager to show the world what I’ve got.”

The addition of Roberts and Richards to Grand Slam Track™ marks a significant step in the league's growth, further enhancing its reputation as a platform for elite athletes.

The historic achievements on the track for Bahamian sprint hurdler Devynne Charlton in the 2024 season need more attention and recognition according to President of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), Drumeco Archer.

The 28-year-old broke Susanna Kallur’s 16-year-old 60m hurdles world record of 7.68 when she ran 7.67 to win at the Millrose Games in New York on February 11.

Charlton then broke her own world record with a 7.65 effort to win gold at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in March, her first major title and a step up from her silver medal at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

“Today, her success and her achievements are still understated,” Archer said on the latest episode of the Out D’ Blocks podcast on the SportsMax TV YouTube channel.

“She is the best 60m hurdler in the world and that’s something that goes into the history books and can never be taken away from her,” Archer added.

Charlton also had some good results outdoors in the 100m hurdles last season, producing wins at the Racers Grand Prix (12.64) on June 1 and the New York City Grand Prix (12.56) on June 9.

She also had runner-up finishes at the Diamond League meetings in Xiamen (12.49) and Shanghai (12.64) on April 20 and 27, respectively.

Charlton didn’t have the result she wanted at the Olympic Games in August, however, finishing sixth in the final in 12.56.

Archer says, based on his recent conversations with Charlton, she is keen to begin her preparations for the 2025 season

“I have spoken with Devynne recently and she has indicated that, so long that she has fee that can move at the level that she wants to compete at, she will continue to be back so I’m expecting her at full force,” he said.

“Obviously, next year is a very long season and she is looking forward to championing back to the World Championships and doing well,” Archer added.

Great Britain’s Olympic medalist Zharnel Hughes and his Jamaican girlfriend Shenel Francis are set to become parents, as the couple revealed their exciting news on Instagram. On Sunday, Shenel shared a photo of her advanced baby bump, confirming that the pair are eagerly expecting their first child together.

Shenel, a dental hygienist and entrepreneur, has been by Hughes' side throughout much of his record-breaking career. The couple has been together since at least 2018, though they only went public with their relationship in September 2022. Earlier this year, they took their relationship to the next level, moving in together in early March 2024.

Shenel, who graduated with honours in 2021 from the University of Technology in Kingston, Jamaica, is not only a dental professional but also a businesswoman. She launched her own luxury hand-poured scented candle brand, Esenek.co Candles, in 2021. The couple’s bond has been a strong source of support for Hughes, who has continued to achieve major milestones in his athletic career, including breaking the long-standing British 200m record in 2023.

Hughes, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics as part of Team GB's 4x100m relay squad, has often spoken of Shenel's influence on his life. In a 2023 interview with GQ, Hughes mentioned how Shenel was present as he meditated before one of his historic races where he surpassed John Regis' 200m record, setting a new British mark of 19.73 seconds.

Before his relationship with Shenel, Hughes was linked to European sprint champion Dina Asher-Smith. However, his relationship with Shenel has flourished, with both supporting each other's professional and personal endeavors.

Even though he is a resident of Great Britain, Hughes, who attended Kingston College in Jamaica, purchased a home in Jamaica earlier this year.

St Lucia's Julien Alfred and the Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino have been named among the six nominees for the 2024 World Athletics Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, following their remarkable achievements during the season. This nomination is part of the World Athletics Awards 2024, which recognizes the year’s top performers across various disciplines.

Alfred, who had a stellar year, claimed the Olympic 100m gold in Paris and also secured the World Indoor 60m title earlier in the year. She is also the Diamond League 100m champion. Her nomination is a testament to her exceptional performances that have solidified her as one of the premier sprinters on the global stage.

Paulino, the Dominican Republic’s 400m star, also earned her spot on the list with her dominant displays throughout the season. Unbeaten in 2024, Paulino clinched the Olympic 400m title in Paris and was crowned the Diamond League 400m champion, a testament to her consistency and strength over the quarter-mile distance.

Joining Alfred and Paulino as nominees are Kenya's Beatrice Chebet, the Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion; Faith Kipyegon, another Kenyan who set the World 1500m record and took Olympic gold in the same event; Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the USA, the Olympic 400m hurdles and 4x400m champion; and Gabby Thomas of the USA, who won the Olympic 200m and was part of the gold-medal-winning 4x100m and 4x400m teams.

The finalists for the Track Athlete of the Year will be determined through public voting on World Athletics' social media platforms, with voting set to close on October 27. This year’s nominees highlight some of the most memorable performances at major events like the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the World Athletics Indoor Championships, and the one-day meeting circuits.

In addition to the impressive list of female nominees, World Athletics has also announced the contenders for the 2024 Men’s Track Athlete of the Year. These nominees represent some of the most outstanding performances from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and other major events across the season.

The nominees for 2024 Men’s Track Athlete of the Year are:

Rai Benjamin (USA)

Olympic 400m hurdles and 4x400m champion

World 400m hurdles leader

 Grant Holloway (USA)

Olympic 110m hurdles champion

World indoor 60m hurdles champion and world record holder

 Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway)

Olympic 5000m champion

World 3000m record

 Noah Lyles (USA)

Olympic 100m champion

Olympic 200m bronze medalist

 Letsile Tebogo (Botswana)

Olympic 200m champion

World 200m leader

 Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya)

Olympic 800m champion

Diamond League 800m champion

 These nominees reflect the incredible depth of talent in men’s track and field, with standout performances in multiple disciplines, including sprints, hurdles, middle-distance, and long-distance events.

Voting is now open on World Athletics' social media platforms and will close on October 27. The finalists for both the men’s and women’s awards will be selected based on public votes, and the winners will be revealed at the World Athletics Awards later this year.

The President of the St Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC), Alfred Emmanuel, has extended heartfelt congratulations to Julien Alfred after her stunning achievements at the inaugural CANOC Sports Awards held in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands on Saturday night. Alfred was honored with the Female Sports Personality of the Year and Caribbean Breakthrough Award, adding to her growing list of accolades during an exceptional 2024 season.

On behalf of the entire Olympic family in St Lucia, Emmanuel praised Alfred’s dedication and hard work, which have propelled her to the pinnacle of world athletics.

“On behalf of the executive board of the St Lucia Olympic Committee and the entire Olympic family in St Lucia, I want to extend sincere congratulations to Julien for attaining yet two more awards during her outstanding 2024 season,” Emmanuel said. “She has shown that dedication and hard work pays off. We have no doubt that before 2024 is over there are many other awards that she will receive for her outstanding season. Congratulations Julien and remain focused and healthy, and we look forward to the 2025 season.”

Alfred’s Caribbean Breakthrough Award celebrated her remarkable rise in track and field, where she delivered electrifying performances throughout the year. She shared the honour with Thea LaFond of Dominica, who has also shone on the international stage, particularly in the triple jump.

The prestigious Female Sports Personality of the Year award solidified Alfred’s standing as one of the Caribbean’s brightest stars in athletics. In 2024, she won the World Indoor 60m title in Glasgow, followed by a historic victory in the Olympic 100m final, setting a new national record of 10.72 seconds, the second-fastest time in the world this year. She capped her season by claiming the 100m Diamond League title in Brussels.

Alfred’s triumphs have not only brought immense pride to St Lucia but have also inspired countless young athletes across the Caribbean. As she continues her journey, both on and off the track, the nation eagerly anticipates more success from her in the future.

Julien Alfred, Saint Lucia’s sprinting sensation, was the star of the night at the inaugural CANOC Sports Awards on Saturday, walking away with two major accolades in recognition of her stellar 2024 season. Held in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, the awards ceremony celebrated the best of Caribbean sport, and Alfred, the reigning Olympic 100m champion, World Indoor 60m champion, and 2024 Wanda Diamond League 100m champion, was the undisputed highlight.

Alfred, currently the top-ranked female athlete from the Caribbean, was named the Caribbean Female Sports Personality of the Year, edging out some of the region’s finest talents, including Marileidy Paulino, the Olympic 400m champion from the Dominican Republic, and former 100m hurdles Olympic gold medallist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico. With three major titles to her name in 2024, Alfred’s dominance on the track made her the clear favorite for the award.

But that wasn’t the only accolade the 23-year-old star took home. Earlier in the evening, Alfred shared the Breakthrough Award with Dominica’s Thea LaFond, a triple jumper who also had an outstanding year, winning both World Indoors and Olympic gold. This award honors athletes who earned their first medals in major international competitions, and Alfred’s rise to the top of world athletics this year cemented her status as one of the Caribbean's brightest stars.

The CANOC Sports Awards were created to honour the region’s finest athletes, teams, and sports leaders, celebrating their achievements on the international stage. The event also shined a light on sustainability in sports through the IOC Sustainability Awards, adding a broader dimension to the night’s proceedings.

The Caribbean Male Sports Personality of the Year title went to Mijain Lopez Nunez, the five-time Olympic wrestling champion from Cuba, who triumphed over Grenadian decathlete Lindon Victor and Jamaican discus thrower Roje Stona.

Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic made a strong showing in the team categories, with their national women’s volleyball team and men’s football team winning Caribbean Team of the Year honors. The Dominican Republic Olympic Committee was also named National Olympic Committee of the Year, rounding off a successful night for the country.

Other notable winners included Anmar Goodridge-Boyce of Barbados, who was awarded the Caribbean Sports Media Award for his contributions to regional sports coverage, and the late Judy Simons of Bermuda, who was posthumously honored with the Caribbean Distinguished Service Award for her dedication to advancing sports administration in the region.

For Julien Alfred, the night was a fitting tribute to a breakout year on the global stage, solidifying her place as one of the Caribbean’s greatest athletes. As she continues her journey, both on the track and as a role model for aspiring athletes across the region, her achievements at the CANOC Sports Awards underscore her extraordinary talent and the bright future ahead.

President of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), Drumeco Archer, sees a bright future ahead for Bahamas’ track and field program with stalwarts Shaunae Miller-Uibo and Steven Gardiner on the backend of their respective remarkable careers.

The Bahamas finished the 2024 Paris Olympics with no medals. The last time that happened was at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

Their best hope for a medal, Gardiner, who was the defending Olympic Champion, pulled up injured in his semi-final of the Men’s 400m while Miller-Uibo, Olympic Champion in 2016 and 2021, failed to advance from the heats in the Women’s equivalent.

World Indoor Champion and record holder in the 60m hurdles, Devynne Charlton, finished sixth in the final of the 100m hurdles, the same place she finished three years earlier in Tokyo.

Despite these lean results, Archer, speaking on the latest episode of Out D’ Blocks on the SportsMax TV YouTube Channel, says he is optimistic about the future of the country’s track and field program.

“I am very optimistic about where we are in our program. Yes, I think that when you give a woman a rose, you just can’t stop and that is really the expectation of the world and, no doubt, our local community,” Archer said.

“With an illustrious 10-year span for both Shaunae (Miller-Uibo) and Steven Gardiner, obviously there’s an expectation but I think what we’ve done over the years is have the vision of trying to continue to produce new growth to the program and so I think we have a legion of new rising stars that will replace the likes of Shaunae and Steven,” Archer added.

In addition to her two Olympic titles, Miller-Uibo, 30, also won the World title in 2022 and took silver at both the 2015 and 2017 World Championships.

Gardiner, 29, also won gold at the World Championships in 2019.

Archer noted that he believes that these two stalwarts of Bahamian sprinting still have some more great performances in their future.

 “Let me just say that this is really not the end for them. There’s a lot more in the gas tank. Let me preface by saying I don’t speak for them but I’m optimistic that you just don’t end your career like that so I’m expecting them to return to the big stage and deliver as the world expects them to,” he said.

At any major championship, a strong performance in the semi-finals usually makes an athlete’s confidence skyrocket heading into the round where the medals will be decided.

According to reigning Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred, this was exactly the case for her in Paris in August.

After getting through her heat comfortably in 10.95, Alfred, 23, was drawn in a brutal second semi-final that also included 2023 World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson and was supposed to have 10-time World and three-time Olympic Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Fraser-Pryce failed to turn up for the race meaning Alfred still had Richardson to contend with.

“When I saw the line-up, I was like man, I have to run! I really have to run tomorrow. I kept thinking about how I’m going to execute,” she said on a recent episode of Out D' Blocks on the SportsMax TV YouTube Channel.

“I had to psych myself up mentally,” she added.

The execution couldn’t have gone more perfectly for the St. Lucian as she blasted out of the blocks, getting a big lead on Richardson before shutting down towards the line to win in 10.84.

She then repeated in the final, speeding to a personal best and national record 10.72 to win her country’s first ever Olympic medal.

Alfred says her semi-final performance gave her the confidence she needed to produce her best in the final.

“After that semi-final, I gained so much confidence,” she said.

Crossing that line and executing such a good race and even slowing down in the last five metres of the race, I knew I had it in the bag as long as I go out there and do it in the final,” Alfred added.

The World Indoor 60m champion said the performance in the semi-final helped her to be calmer in the final.

“I was as relaxed as possible. The way that semi-final turned out was the best thing that happened to me because I gained all the confidence,” she said.

“Just going back to the warm-up area, my coach kept telling me we’re not done yet, we have one more round,” she added.