Day one at the 2024 Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Friday saw a number of Caribbean athletes producing excellent performances.

Perhaps the best performance on the day came from 2022 Commonwealth 110m hurdles champion Rasheed Broadbell.

The 23-year-old produced a personal best 7.56 to take the men’s 60m hurdles ahead of countryman Tyler Mason who ran a personal best 7.65 in second. LSU Sophomore Matthew Sophia was third in 7.67, also a personal best.

The women’s 60m Open saw a Caribbean top three as Tina Clayton won ahead of twin sister Tia with Bahamian Anthonique Strachan finishing third. Tina’s winning time was a season’s best 7.25 while Tia’s time in second was 7.28 and Strachan’s in third was 7.30.

The men’s equivalent saw reigning Jamaican National 100m champion Rohan Watson run 6.76 to finish as runner up behind American Lawrence Johnson who ran 6.70. Another American, Tony Brown, ran a personal best 6.78 in third while Jamaica’s Michael Campbell ran 6.80 in fourth.

The College men’s 60m saw Bahamian Florida Sophomore Wanya McCoy produce a personal best 6.65 to finish second behind LSU Sophomore Myles Thomas (6.62). Thomas’s teammate, Godson Oghenebrume, also ran 6.65 in third.

The women’s College 400m saw Jamaican National champion Nickisha Pryce produce a personal best 51.04 to take the win. Her time also puts her #3 on the all-time Jamaican indoor list.

The Arkansas Junior finished ahead of her schoolmate Kaylyn Brown who ran a personal best 51.49 for second while Rosey Effiong completed the Arkansas 1-2-3 with 51.65 in third.

The women’s Open 400m saw Lanae-Tava Thomas and Stacey Ann Williams run 51.88 and 52.33 for second and third, respectively. American Alexis Holmes won in a meet record 50.80. Another Jamaican, Andrenette Knight, ran 52.68 in fourth.

In the field, 2019 World champion and national record holder, Tajay Gayle, opened his season with 8.15m to finish second in the men’s long jump. Gayle, who also took bronze at the World Championships in Budapest last year, also produced a 7.99m effort in his series on Friday.

The event was won by Florida Senior Malcolm Clemons with 8.17m while Bahamian Laquan Nairn produced 7.93m for third.

In a display of international athleticism, junior and senior athletes from five countries are gearing up for the highly anticipated 51st edition of the Gibson/McCook Relays scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 24, 2024. With participation confirmed from The Bahamas, Canada, St Kitts Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, and the USA, this year's relays promise to be a thrilling spectacle at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Canadian teams are set to make a strong showing, with junior athletes representing the Brampston Racers and Flying Angels in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200mh relays. Meanwhile, Bishop Anstey and Queens College from Trinidad & Tobago will field talented girls and boys teams in the sprint relays, including the 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m, and 4 x 400m events.

St Kitts Nevis is expected to make a mark in the high jump category, showcasing the diverse range of talents that will be on display. The Bahamas will be represented by a formidable 4 x 100m male club team, adding a layer of excitement to the relay competitions.

The USA teams are gearing up for intense competition, particularly in the sprint and mile relays, adding a strong international flavor to the event. These overseas athletes will join over 2,000 participants registered for the 51st staging of the Gibson/McCook Relays, making it a true celebration of track and field excellence.

One of the notable additions to this year's event is the introduction of the 4 x 400m mixed relays high school open event, bringing a fresh and exciting element to the competition. Schools participating in the ISSA Boys and Girls Championships scheduled for March 19-23 will also have the opportunity to earn qualifying standards for specific events.

The Organizing Committee has secured partnerships for 40 events, reflecting the collaborative effort to ensure the success and vibrancy of the Gibson/McCook Relays. The action is set to commence at 9:30 am, with the last thrilling race scheduled to begin at 8:50 pm, promising an entire day of track and field excitement.

Jamaica's three-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce says she "owes" it to her family to retire after this summer's Games in Paris.

The 37-year-old, regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, won the 100m title in 2008 and 2012. Fraser-Pryce also won Tokyo 2020 Olympic relay gold, plus three of her 10 world titles, in a comeback after giving birth to her son in 2017.

"There's not a day I'm getting up to go practise and I'm like, 'I'm over this," she told Essence.com.

"My son needs me. My husband and I have been together since before I won in 2008. He has sacrificed for me.

"We're a partnership, a team. And it's because of that support that I'm able to do the things that I have been doing for all these years. And I think I now owe it to them to do something else," she added.

On that note, Fraser-Pryce pointed out that this year's Olympics in Paris were about "showing people that you stop when you decide.

"I want to finish on my own terms," she declared.

In total, Fraser-Pryce has won three Olympic golds, four silvers and a bronze.

Three Jamaican female athletes have once again stamped their mark on the prestigious Bowerman Watch List for the week of February 7, 2024. Lamara Distin, Brianna Lyston, and Ackelia Smith have earned well-deserved spots on the coveted list, showcasing their exceptional prowess in the world of collegiate athletics.

The Bowerman Award, presented annually to the most outstanding NCAA male and female athletes in the USA, is a testament to the incredible talent and hard work displayed by these athletes. The recent announcement follows the historic achievement in 2023, where two Caribbean athletes, Jaydon Hibbert and Julien Alfred, claimed the coveted award for the first time ever.

Lyston's inclusion in the list is particularly noteworthy as she joins teammates Alia Armstrong and Michaela Rose, making LSU the eighth program to place at least three athletes on the same Women’s Watch List.

From Portmore, Jamaica, Lyston won the 60m dash at the Razorback Invitational in 7.07 becoming number four all-time on the collegiate list. She has also run 7.14 in a 60m prelim as well as 23.16 in the 200. Lyston is the 12th athlete in LSU women’s history to be named to the Watch List.

Distin, representing Texas A&M, returns to the Watch List after an impressive high jump clearance of 1.94m at the Ted Nelson Invitational. With a personal record of 1.97m indoors, Distin aims to secure her third consecutive NCAA DI Indoor crown, adding to her already illustrious career. Her PR of 1.97m indoors puts her number three all-time. This is her eighth career Watch List appearance.

Smith, hailing from Clarendon, Jamaica, has showcased her versatility by dominating the long jump event so far this season. With a series of impressive leaps, including a 6.85m victory at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, Smith is making her mark as a force to be reckoned with in collegiate track and field.

Last year’s NCAA DI Outdoor long jump champion, Smith is number two all-time collegiately at 7.08m and also has chops in the triple jump – an event she hasn’t contested this year but rates No. 3 all-time outdoors 14.54m and No. 5 indoors (14.29m. This is her fourth career Watch List appearance.

 The next Bowerman Watch List will be announced on February 28.

Damion Thomas of Jamaica and Charisma Taylor of the Bahamas showcased their athletic prowess at the 2024 edition of the Meeting de Mondeville in France on Wednesday, claiming victory in their respective hurdles events.

Thomas, who has had his issues with injuries in the past couple of years, stormed to a close victory in the 60m hurdles, winning in a time of 7.63. The time reflected a level of consistency from the Jamaican, who was only 0.02 slower than the 7.61 he ran on Saturday when he notched his first win as a professional athlete.

Not far behind was Elmo Lakka. The Fin clocked 7.68 for second place with Mikdat Sevler of Turkey trailing in third in 7.78.

It was a much easier affair for Taylor in the women’s sprint hurdles event. The Bahamian was a comfortable winner in 7.94. However, the battle for second place between Sidonie Fiadnanantsoa and Yumi Tanaka was much closer with the athlete from Madagascar being awarded second place having been determined to be ahead by a few hundredths of a second ahead of the Japanese hurdler.

Jamaican sprinter Shashalee Forbes followed up her 60m win at the ISTAF Indoor Dusseldorf in Germany on Sunday with a third-place finish at the ORLEN Copernicus Cup- A World Athletics Indoor Tour- Gold event in Torun, Poland on Tuesday.

Compared to the top two finishers, Poland’s Ewa Swoboda and Italy’s Zaynab Dosso, Forbes got a poor start and never really recovered, eventually finishing a distant third in 7.13.

Swoboda’s winning time was a meet record and world-leading 7.01 while Dosso ran 7.02, a personal best, in second.

Forbes’ time was her third fastest in the event this season. In addition to her 7.11 to win in Germany on Sunday, the 27-year-old ran 7.03 to win at the Queens Grace Jackson Meet at the National Stadium in Kingston on January 27.

BermudAir is in the final stages of arranging a charter flight to Grenada for the 2024 Carifta Games.

The airline is working with the Bermuda National Athletic Association on the charter for athletes who have qualified to represent the island at the March 31 to April 1 event.

Adam Scott, the founder and chief executive of BermudAir, said: "BermudAir is delighted to help support the BNAA with ensuring Bermuda's athletes and families can travel efficiently to Grenada. We congratulate all our local competitors on qualifying for Carifta, and wish them the very best as they represent the island."

BermudAir has operated two similar charters for sports teams previously. They were for football clubs based in the Caribbean travelling from St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados to compete in Bermuda.

A spokeswoman for BermudAir added: “The BermudAir team is finding that local and overseas sports teams are inquiring about charters since they provide a travel option that typically saves time, while also avoiding the expense of an overnight hotel stay in transit and additional ground transportation fees.

“Charter requests typically involve a group of at least 30 travelling to a destination not easily reached on commercial flights and often requiring an overnight stay.

“Charters also allow the group to travel together and bond as a team while using a flight dedicated solely to them.”

The 51st edition of the Carifta Games will be broadcast live on SportsMax and the SportsMax App.

Having clinched two world titles, Danielle Williams is on a mission to secure her spot on the Jamaican Olympic team after falling short in previous attempts. Determined to overcome the injuries that have disrupted her preparation in recent seasons, Williams has taken extra measures this year, including the addition of a massage therapist to her team.

Williams, who surprised the world by claiming the 100m hurdles gold in Budapest last season, acknowledges the challenges of building on that success. "It's a brand new year, and we start from scratch," she states. Reflecting on the lessons learned from the previous season, she aims to improve consistency in crucial areas to ensure peak performance at every race.

Addressing the recurring issue of early-season injuries, Williams explains her strategy for navigating this obstacle. "I added a massage therapist, who is there at the track every single day now," she reveals. This proactive approach allows the therapist to monitor and address potential issues before they escalate into injuries, providing Williams with the necessary support to maintain her health throughout the season.

With the world record now at 12.12 and several sprint hurdlers capable of times of 12.2s, Williams believes she has it in her to approach those times but offers a caveat to that objective.

"The conditions have to be perfect, and I can't control the conditions," she admits. Despite the challenges, she expresses her desire to run a personal best every time she competes but emphasizes the difficulty of achieving such feats due to continuous training without breaks from meets.

“Every time I step on the track I want to run a personal best but it's just that's not going to be the case just based on how training is lined up and we don't we don't take breaks from meets, so we train right through. The only meets we take breaks for are the national championship and the world championship, so it's definitely going to be difficult.”

Notwithstanding those challenges, she feels she is capable of exceeding her 12.32 personal best set in 2019. "I definitely know that I have it within me; it's just to get out and execute it on the day," she asserts.

With her eyes set on the upcoming season and the Olympic trials, Williams is determined to overcome past setbacks, stay injury-free, and potentially surpass her personal best, aiming for even greater heights with the ultimate prize being an Olympic medal.

 Carey McLeod and Akeem Blake showcased their exceptional athletic abilities at the New Balance Invitational in Boston on Sunday, delivering standout performances in their respective events.

 In the long jump competition, Carey McLeod soared to a season-best mark of 8.20m, securing victory against a highly competitive field. This remarkable feat came shortly after his training partner Wayne Pinnock set a world-leading mark of 8.34m in New Mexico just a couple of days prior. The talented field included Jacob Fincham Dukes of Great Britain, who claimed second place with an impressive 8.02m jump, and Juvaughn Harrison, a multi-talented jumper who secured third place with a leap of 7.87m.

 Akeem Blake, while not claiming the top spot in his event, delivered a lifetime-best performance in the men's 60m. In a tightly contested race, Blake finished second, crossing the line in an indoor lifetime best 6.45. The victory went to American superstar Noah Lyles, who clocked a lifetime-best time of 6.44 which was also a meet record and world-leading performance.

 In the women's 60m hurdles, the competition was intense and thrilling, featuring 2022 world champion Tobi Amusan, Devynne Charlton of the Bahamas, and Tia Jones of the USA. Tia Jones emerged victorious with a lifetime-best and world-leading time of 7.72, showcasing her sprinting prowess. Amusan lowered her national record set in Kazakhstan a week ago, finishing second with a time of 7.75. Charlton closely followed, just outside her own national record, securing third place with a time of 7.76.

 Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper also participated, finishing seventh with a season's best time of 8.02.

In a dazzling display of speed and composure under pressure, Jamaica's Shashalee Forbes claimed victory in the 60m dash at the ISTAF Indoor Meeting in Dusseldorf, Germany on Sunday, continuing her stellar early-season form.

Forbes, the world championships relay silver medalist from Budapest in 2023, has been a dominant force over 60m this season, consistently proving herself as the fastest Jamaican in various conditions. Earlier in the season, she clocked 7.03 outdoors at the Queens/Grace Jackson Invitational on January 27 on the back of a strong performance of 7.14 at the Central Hurdles, Relays, and Field Events meeting a week earlier.

On Sunday, Forbes elevated her performance to new heights, setting a personal best of 7.11 in the 60m dash. N'Ketia Seedo of the Netherlands trailed in her wake with a commendable 7.15, achieving a personal best in a race in which the top four participants all recorded lifetime best performances. Germany's Alexandra Burghardt secured the final podium spot with a time of 7.20.

Expressing her excitement after the remarkable victory, Forbes revealed her eagerness for upcoming challenges. "I feel pretty great about this victory, and I am just looking for a next PB, a next run. But so far, I feel really good about this. This time, 7.11s, means a lot to me, my first time doing all this this season," she remarked.

Forbes isn't slowing down, with two more meetings lined up in Poland and New York. "I am not staying in Europe for indoors, but you guys should watch me there," she teased.

The consistent success she has enjoyed this season fuels Forbes' anticipation for the World Indoor Championships in Scotland next month. Forbes sees this event as a crucial step toward her ultimate goal of representing Jamaica at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.

"Glasgow is on my roadmap. Every championship is always on my roadmap; it is another opportunity to be great. And it is also a preparation for Paris. I really hope to get the chance to represent my country in Paris," she expressed, highlighting the significance of the upcoming competitions on her calendar.

Jamaica's Christania Williams, on her comeback trail, secured the fifth position with a time of 7.30 in the intense competition.

Dominican triple jumper Thea LaFond-Gadson showcased her exceptional talent by establishing a world-leading performance at the 61st East Coast Invitational in Virginia, USA, on Saturday. The event featured a specially arranged Olympic Development competition, where LaFond-Gadson emerged victorious with a remarkable leap of 14.60m.

The talented jumper not only secured her win but also surpassed her own meet record of 14.54 meters, set in 2021. LaFond-Gadson's performance underlined her consistency and determination to raise the bar in her discipline. If ratified, the mark also displaces the previous 2024 best of 14.45m by Cuba's Leyanis Perez Hernandez in France earlier Saturday.

The Olympic Development event at the high-school meet gathered a field of elite jumpers, including renowned athletes such as Kenturah Orji and Imani Oliver, with personal bests of 14.90 and 14.22 meters, respectively. The competition promised a high level of athleticism, with top-tier participants aiming to make their mark.

In addition to the established stars, the field included promising talents like Mylana Hearn, Adja Sackor, and Aniella Delafosse. The diverse lineup added an extra layer of excitement to the event.

Julien Alfred followed up her 200m victory at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic on Friday with a win in the 60m on day two on Saturday.

Alfred, who became the joint-second fastest in the event with her personal best 6.94 last season, ran 7.04 for victory ahead of Tennessee’s Jacious Sears (7.09) and San Diego State’s Hannah Waller (7.26).

The men’s 60m hurdles saw LSU Sophomore Jaheim Stern produce 7.71 to win ahead od Cal State Fullerton’s Abel Jordan (7.72) and LSU’s Matthew Sophia (7.73).

Lanae-Tava Thomas, who was third in the 200m on Friday, went one better in the 400m on Saturday. Her time in second was 51.67, a good distance behind winner Rhasidat Adeleke’s 51.12. Jamaican Texas sophomore Dejanea Oakley ran 52.23 for third.

In the field, Vincentian Georgia Senior Mickeisha Welcome jumped 13.52m for second in the women’s triple jump behind American Jasmine Moore (14.32m). Asia Phillips of Flying Angels International was third with 13.21m.

Julien Alfred, Wayne Pinnock and Ackelia Smith all produced world-leading marks in their respective events on day one of the University of New Mexico Collegiate Classic at the Albuquerque Convention Center on Friday.

Alfred, the winner of the 2023 Bowerman Award and a silver medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham now training with Preeminence sports, produced a fast 22.16 to win the women’s 200m ahead of Tennessee’s Jacious Sears (22.57) and her training partner, Lanae-Tava Thomas (22.72).

Pinnock, who took silver at the World Championships in Budapest last year, produced 8.34m to take the win ahead of Isaac Grimes (7.74m) and Kelsey Daniel of Texas (7.63m).

The Arkansas Junior fouled his first attempt before producing his world-leading jump in the second round. The third round saw him leap out to 8.03m before passing on his final three jumps.

Reigning NCAA champion Ackelia Smith was equally dominant in the women’s equivalent producing 6.85m for victory. Stanford’s Alyssa Jones was second with 6.54m while Madisen Richards jumped 6.49m for third.

Smith had a very consistent card with distances of 6.61m, 6.44m, 6.76m, 6.85m and 6.70m in the first five rounds before passing on her sixth.

Reigning Olympic 400m champion Steven Gardiner made a successful return to the track at the South Carolina Invitational at the University of South Carolina on Friday.

The Bahamian produced a world-leading 31.78 to win the men’s 300m ahead of American Matthew Boling (32.58) and British World Championship silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith (33.82).

The 28-year-old's time was also the second fastest ever indoors, only trailing his 31.56 done at the same venue in 2022.

Gardiner, who also took gold at the World Championships in Doha in 2019, was on his way to another undefeated season in the 400m before pulling up with an injury in the semi-finals at the World Championships in Budapest last August.

In the women’s equivalent in South Carolina, Jamaican Charokee Young ran 37.38 for second behind American Quanera Hayes who won in an excellent 36.36. Tierra Robinson-Jones was third in 38.44.

Two-time Jamaican national 200m champion Andrew Hudson ran 6.74 to take top spot in the men’s 60m ahead of Miles Stephens (6.89) and Doniven Jackson (6.92).

In the field, Guyanese Limestone College senior Lloyd McCurdy jumped 14.50m to win the men’s triple jump ahead of Wingate’s Dequan Thompson (14.44m) and Limestone’s Trevon Jenkins (14.18m).

SEC honours were awarded to a pair of Razorbacks this week with Romaine Beckford named Field Athlete of the Week while John Kendricks earned Freshman of the Week.

Beckford set an indoor best of 2.27m in winning the high jump at the Razorback Invitational prior to attempt the Olympic qualifying standard of 2.33m. Beckford is the current collegiate leader and his mark ranks equal sixth in the world for the 2024 season.

The performance by Beckford, the defending 2023 NCAA indoor & outdoor champion, moved him to No. 4 on the Arkansas all-time list and No. 3 on the Jamaican all-time indoor list with the equal No. 4 performance. Germaine Mason holds the Jamaican indoor record of 2.30m, which was set in 2003 and Christoff Bryan ranks second with a 2.28m from 2015.