Reigning National high jump champion Romaine Beckford was victorious in his first meet as an Arkansas Razorback.

The former South Plains College and University of South Florida standout was locked in a tense battle with teammate Kason O’Riley before eventually winning the event with a 2.19m clearance on a short, four-step approach. 

Beckford trailed teammate Kason O’Riley when both cleared 2.16m, as O’Riley navigated the previous height of 2.11m on a first attempt while Beckford needed three tries before clearing. 

A third attempt clearance at 2.19m earned Beckford the victory as three missed attempts at 2.22m followed.

Beckford then saluted the encouraging crowd of 1,418 with his signature backflip on the high jump mat. 

Following the 1-2 Arkansas finish in the high jump, Razorback Tomas Ferrari placed fifth with a 6-7 (2.01) clearance.

Beckford won last year’s NCAA Outdoor title with a 2.27m clearance while competing for USF.

He then won the National title with 2.23m and the NACAC U-23 title with 2.21m.

The 21-year-old also competed at the World Championships in Budapest, finishing 11^th in his qualifying group with a best clearance of 2.22m.

Tokyo Olympics 100m hurdles  bronze medalist Megan Tapper has inked a major three-year sponsorship deal with the luxury all-inclusive Jamaican-born super brand, Sandals Resorts International. The AC Hotel Kingston, on Friday, hosted the contract-signing ceremony held with Sandals’ Executive Chairman, Adam Stewart, Tapper, members of her family and some of her closest supporters.

Tapper gained recognition during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first-ever Jamaican female athlete to clinch an Olympic medal in the 100-metre sprint hurdles. However, it wasn't just the two-time Olympian's athletic prowess that won hearts, but also her effervescent personality that captivated many Jamaicans, including Sandals' executive chairman.

“I think it is fair to say that Megan is a reflection, through her smile, of what Jamaica’s soul represents. Her achievements on the world stage speak for themselves, but the way she conducts herself, the way she inspires the next generation, the way she brings to life the feeling of Jamaica through her smile and how she acts and carries herself is something that Sandals Resorts International wanted to be associated with. We love superstars, and we love standing on the world stage ourselves. We love boasting about everything Jamaica is and can continue to be, and I saw a reflection of our company in Megan,” Adam Stewart stated, as he welcomed the Olympian to the Sandals’ family.

Stewart expressed that Tapper and athletes like herself continue to vividly demonstrate that Jamaica is more than “likkle but tallawah.”

He described Jamaican athletics as a password that propels the country’s approximate three million people to the world stage, inspiring the international community to want to visit and experience Jamaica’s rich culture, warm people and breathtaking beauty.

“So when you are running, you’re doing so much more than just crossing the hurdles for yourself and for team Jamaica. You’re actually helping the entire three million people have a strong and bold future,” he conveyed to Tapper.

Stewart also proudly declared that Tapper now has the unwavering and enthusiastic support of Sandals Resorts and its expansive army of devoted Jamaicans and Caribbean nationals globally.

Tapper, visibly moved by the Executive Chairman’s sentiments, admitted that she was close to tears and overwhelmed by his extraordinary show of support. She described the sponsorship deal with Sandals as a golden and incredible opportunity, especially as she prepares for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games to be held in Paris, France, this year.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this partnership with Sandals as I gear up to make my third Olympic team,” a beaming Tapper said. “I can’t wait to soar to new heights and bring the essence of the Caribbean sun and the Sandals smile to every single country that I go to. It’s an incredible opportunity and I am excited to represent such a fantastic brand. I am confident that this will be an unforgettable partnership. This collaboration is an important one because it reiterates that Sandals, though not an apparel brand, supports sport in Jamaica, which, along with tourism, is consistently doing well on the world stage and will obviously continue to do so. I am confident that this partnership will contribute positively towards carrying the brand to new heights,” she added while expressing heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the luxury all-inclusive resort brand.

Over the years, Sandals Resorts International has sponsored sports in Jamaica and the region, including cricket and motorsports. With this latest partnership forged with Tapper, Sandals' Executive Chairman used the opportunity to graciously recognise other Jamaican brands who support local athletics.

He extended commendation to companies such as Digicel and cordially called on corporate Jamaica to continue these types of partnerships.

“When you look at Digicel’s stamp on athletics and their commitment to the sport, I think it’s something that cannot be overlooked without expressing gratitude as a Jamaican and a Caribbean national. All the other companies such as Grace Kennedy, that support Jamaican athletics undoubtedly deserve commendation. I just want to encourage those companies that have been around for a long time to continue to support – and the new companies- to hold hands and continue to fight. Jamaica is in a league of its own, do what is right and support Jamaican athletics,” the Sandals boss stated.

Two-time World 100m hurdles champion Danielle Williams opened her season with a runner-up finish in the 60m at the Clemson Invitational on Friday.

Williams first won the second heat of the preliminaries in 7.37 before crossing the line in 7.25 in the final, narrowly behind Georgia sophomore Kaila Jackson who won in 7.19. Another Georgia sophomore, Autumn Wilson, ran 7.28 in third.

The men’s event was won by Jamaican Georgia freshman Jehlani Gordon. The former Wolmer’s Boys sprinter won the second preliminary heat in 6.74, the fourth fastest time in the prelims, before returning to win the final in a personal best 6.60, the third fastest time ever by Georgia athlete. Campbell senior Jamal Miller and Clemson senior Cameron Rose ran 6.64 and 6.65, respectively, in second and third.

A pair of Jamaicans, Lafranz Campbell and Gianno Roberts, finished first and second in the men’s 60m hurdles with times of 7.74 and 7.76, respectively. North Colorado junior Jerome Campbell ran 7.78 for third.

Clemson sophomore Oneka Wilson ran 8.31 for third in the women’s equivalent behind Amber Hughes (8.19) and Cortney Jones (8.21).

Charokee Young ran 1:29.45 for second in the women’s 600m behind Clemson freshman Gladys Chepngetich (1:28.22). Quanera Hayes ran 1:29.49 in third.

Clemson senior Tarees Rhoden was second in the men’s equivalent in a personal best 1:16.10. Garden State Track Club’s Jake Ulrich took the win in 1:15.94 while Georgia Tech senior Jameson Miller ran a personal best 1:18.83 in third.

In the field, Jamaican Clemson senior Marie Forbes dominated the field to win the women’s weight with a best throw of 22.20m, a season best. Kennesaw State junior Kali Tezra threw 19.32m for second while Georgia junior Kelsie Murrell-Ross threw 18.63m for third.

Forbes’ schoolmate and countrywoman, Shantae Foreman, produced a personal best 13.39m to win the women’s triple jump ahead of the Kennesaw State pair of senior Alana Mack (12.20m) and sophomore Victoria Joyce (12.05m).

MVP Track Club’s Tia Clayton and Rohan Watson emerged as winners of the women’s and men’s 60m, respectively, at the JAAA Puma Fuller/Anderson Development Meet held on Saturday at the GC Foster College.

Clayton, a two-time World U-20 champion, ran 7.22 to take the win over twin sister Tina (7.27) and their MVP teammate, Bajan Commonwealth Games 400m champion and two-time World championships bronze medallist, Sada Williams (7.30).

“I decided to be more disciplined with what I eat and I have seen the results,” Clayton said in an interview after her race.

“I have lost a lot of weight and I can say everybody is proud because they didn’t believe that I could lose it,” she added.

Two-time World 200m champion Shericka Jackson was also expected to open her season in the 60m but withdrew from the meet.

On the men’s side, reigning National 100m champion Rohan Watson opened his season with a 6.67 effort to take top spot ahead of clubmate Nishion Ebanks (6.68) and GC Foster’s Jevaughn Whyte (6.69).

“It has been good. No serious injuries so, so far, no problems,” Watson said about his preparation for this season.

Reigning NCAA Indoor and Outdoor champion Ackera Nugent opened her 2024 season with a 60m win at the Arkansas Invitational in Fayetteville on Friday.

Nugent was able to get through three rounds of the women’s 60m on her way to victory.

First, she ran 7.38 to get through the first qualifying round before running 7.34 in the preliminaries to advance to the final. She was the fastest qualifier from both rounds.

The 2023 World Championship 100m hurdles finalist then produced 7.35 to narrowly outrun American Jada Baylark who was second in 7.36.

Arkansas senior Rosie Effiong ran 7.45 for third, the same time as a pair of Jamaicans, Louisiana Tech freshman Tonie-Ann Forbes and Arkansas junior Joanne Reid, in fourth and fifth.

Effiong and Reid were also the top two finishers in the 200m in 23.17 and 23.44, respectively. Their schoolmate Rachel Glenn ran 23.52 in third.

On the men’s side, Barbadian Louisiana Tech junior Julian Forde ran 6.74 to win ahead of Texas A&M-Commerce sophomore Ibrahim Fuseini (6.75) and Little Rock freshman Gabriel Torres (6.77).

Moving to the 800m where St. Vincent & the Grenadines’ Shafiqua Maloney ran 2:02.70 to win ahead of the USA’s Raevyn Rogers (2:03.73) and Arkansas senior Amber Anning (2:05.05).

Former Jamaican hurdler Danny McFarlane has been appointed as sprints and hurdles coach as Southern Nazarene University.

“Well, let’s see how good of a coach I am,” McFarlane said in a post on Facebook reacting to the news.

“I’m ready for this challenge. Jamaica big up!” he added.

McFarlane competed for the University of Oklahoma before embarking on a professional career that lasted for 15 years.

He took silver in the 400m hurdles at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and another silver medal in the 4x400m relay four years later in Beijing.

McFarlane is also a five-time World Championship silver medallist, a World Indoor champion and a two-time World Indoor bronze medallist.

Usain Bolt took to social media on Thursday to mark a year since $12.7 million disappeared from his bank account under mysterious circumstances.

The Olympic legend had a horrible start to 2023 after discovering that his account, which he has never withdrawn or transferred money since 2012, was left with just $12,000. The account had $12.7 million as of October 31, 2022.

According to the sprinter’s lawyers, the money in the account with the Jamaican private investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) was intended to serve as pension for the athlete and his family.

CBS at the time reported that Bolt was one of 30 people whose accounts had been wiped clean in an incident that had the FBI involved.

The eight-time Olympic gold medallist was made aware of the fraud when an ex-employee linked to the scheme alerted him on January 11, 2023.

According to multiple reports, the SSL fraud scheme totaled over $30 million, and at least 200 accounts were affected in January last year, including Bolt’s.

Taking to his social media on Thursday, a year since the incident, Bolt shared a message of resilience to his 13.8 million followers.

"Yow peeps, so it's been one year,” he stated.

"Just want unnu know seh mi still deh ya, still a fight the fight, still a hold on, always a go stay strong. Yuh know how the country yutes do it (Just want you to know I’m still here, fighting the fight and holding on. I’m trying to stay strong. To all the people that support me, continue your support. One love,” he added.

Bolt did not directly reference the SSL fraud, but based on the timing of his post, it was clear he was talking about the losses he made a year ago.

Nearly four weeks ago to the day, Jamaica’s Jaydon Hibbert became the youngest winner in the history of The Bowerman. Hibbert hoisted the iconic award at the conclusion of the 2023 USTFCCCA Convention at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center outside of Denver.

His path toward becoming the first repeat winner of collegiate track & field’s highest individual honour from either gender began Wednesday, as he headlines three Jamaicans that were unveiled on the Men’s Preseason Watch List.

Hibbert, who swept the NCAA triple jump crowns and shattered both the indoor and outdoor collegiate records as a freshman at Arkansas, was joined on the ten-man Watch List by Arkansas teammates high jumper Romaine Beckford and World Athletics Championships long jump silver medallist Wayne Pinnock.

Another 2023 finalist, Leo Neugebauer of Texas, 2023 semi-finalists Mykolas Alekna of California and Ky Robinson, as well as, Harvard teammates Graham Blanks and Kenneth Ikeji, Shaun Maswanganyi of Houston and Godson Oghenebrume of LSU, are also on the list.

The next Watch List on the men’s side will be released on February 8.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Jamaica’s long jumper Ackelia Smith of the University of Texas and high jumper Lamara Distin of Texas A&M University were named on the women’s side.

The Bowerman, which is presented to the best male and female track and field athletes in the US College circuit each year since it was inaugurated in 2009, will be awarded in December at the annual USTFCCCA Convention in Orlando, Florida.

Jamaican jumpers Lamara Distin and Ackelia Smith are among those on The Bowerman Women’s Preseason Watch List in 2024, which was unveiled by the United States Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), on Tuesday.

Distin of Texas A&M and Smith of Texas are joined by three other athletes - the LSU pair of Alia Armstrong and Michaela Rose, as well as Roisin Willis of Stanford –who have been on the list at least once before, while the rest of the Women’s Preseason Watch List is completed by five first timers.

Addy Wiley of Huntington (Ind) is the first athlete – male or female – from an NAIA institution to be included on a Watch List for The Bowerman, and she is joined by other debutants Axelina Johansson of Nebraska, Olivia Markezich of Notre Dame, Stephanie Ratcliffe of Georgia and Parker Valby of Florida.

Distin, a prolific high jumper who hails from Hanover, has won three NCAA DI high jump titles – twice indoors in 2022 and 2023, and once outdoors in 2022. She has cleared 1.97m (6-5½) both indoors and outdoors, which has ranked her number three all-time indoors and number four all-time outdoors.

The 23-year-old's accolades also includes additional clearances at 1.96m (6-5) outdoors once for a share at the number six all-time performance, plus three times indoors, all equal to number 10 all-time indoor performance. This is the Commonwealth Games gold medallist's seventh career Watch List appearance.

Meanwhile, Smith, a long and triple jump specialist, who hails from Clarendon, won the 2023 NCAA DI Outdoor long jump title with the number two collegiate performance all-time at 7.08m (23-2¾). She registered another memorable performance in the same meet, when she placed second in the triple jump at 14.54m (47-8 ½), which positioned her at number two on the all-time collegiate list.

Indoors, the 21-year-old was second in the long jump and third in the triple jump at the NCAA Championships, and those performances moved her to number six and number five collegiately all-time, respectively. This is her third career Watch List appearance.

The next Watch List will be released on Wednesday, February 7.

The Bowerman 2024 will be awarded in December at the USTFCCCA Convention in Orlando, Florida.

West Indies captains Shai Hope and Hayley Matthews, as well as star athlete Sada Williams, were among the highlights, as the National Sports Council recognized a number of Barbados standout athletes from a range of disciplines at the 39^th staging of its awards ceremony on Friday.

The event staged at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex was flocked by the country’s finest, who were rightly celebrated for their dedication to achieving sporting excellence.

Williams, who enjoyed a stellar year capped by her bronze medal performance in the 400m at the World Athletic Championships in Budapest, received the much-deserved nod for the coveted Minister’s Award and the National Sports Personality Award for 2023.

Matthews and Hope stood out in their respective categories, winning that award in the senior division. Claiming the school awards were St Gabriel’s School and Harrison College, while Esther Maynard was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her committed service in the athletic community.

Diminutive golfer Ashton O’Kola Physically topped his peers in the Junior Outstanding Sportsperson category, as Chess phenom Hannah Wilson won the honours in the female side.

The Wesley Worrell Award was presented to table tennis player Chad Doughty. Signia Finance and the Barbados Bottling Company received the Sponsors Award for their continued support, while well-known sports journalist Kenmore Bynoe secured the Media Award.

In the Team Award category, the Barbados Women’s Squash team reigned supreme. Emerging Athlete awardees were Desean Boyce in athletics and rising tennis star Hannah Chambers.

Kofi Hinds received the Alvin Burgess Award for Sports Administrator, recognizing his excellent work in the hockey arena, and The Coach-of-the-Year award went to Jesse King in athletics.

Youth Awards were distributed to Rejada Hinds, Scott Galbraith, Shakobi Gittens, Sarama James, Zachary Maynard, Laila McIntyre, and Chaz Reifer-Belle. Special awards were given to Paul Bernstein, Dorian Best, Michelle Elliot, Roberta Foster, and Akeem Rudder.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith in his remarks called for greater support from the private sector.

“From the time I took up this role as Minister of Sports I have been asking the private sector to come on board because it is impossible for government to fund all of the programs that we think are necessary to move our athletes to the next level,” Griffiths said.

“The onus is on us to ensure that every single playing field on this island is active with youngsters engaging in sporting disciplines and we have started the process of lighting all of those playing fields across the island. It is an ongoing project, but we expect to see the finishing line at some point in time,” he added.

Edwin Allen’s Theianna-Lee Terrelonge signalled an early warning for the season ahead, as she opened her account with a breezy personal best in the girls’ Class Two 100m at the JC/Pure Water meet at the Ashenheim Stadium on Saturday.

Terrelonge, a first-year Class Two athlete, clocked a striking 11.30 seconds in a 1.2 metres per second wind reading, as the time surpassed her previous lifetime best of 11.41.

The 16-year-old also erased the meet record of 11.92, with her closest competitor in the timed-final event being Lacovia’s Sabrina Dockery (11.45), while Shanoya Douglas (11.70), of Muschette High, was third.

Alliah Baker of Hydel, finished tops in the girls' Class One 100m, as she stopped the clock in 11.59, ahead of Trezeguet Taylor (11.69) of Edwin, and St Elizabeth Technical’s Habiba Harris (11.75).

Ferncourt's Rihanna Scott led the girls' Class Four 100m action with a new meet record of 12.19. Teixiera Johnson (12.29) of Hydel, and Edwin Allen’s Tashana Godfrey (12.42), were the runners-up.

On the boys’ side, Raheem Pinnock of St Jago took top honours, as his time of 10.59, was fastest across the 16 heats. Jamaica College’s Dontae Powell (10.68), and Edwin Allen’s Antonio Powell (10.73), were second and third respectively.

Muschette’s Johan-Ramaldo Smythe (10.78), topped the boys’ Class Two 100m, followed by Michael-Andre Edwards (11.09) of Jamaica College, and Tyreece Foreman (11.12) of St George’s College.

Meanwhile, Ched Brown of Calabar won the boys’ Class Three event in 11.21, ahead of Jamaica College's Jordan Grant (11.54) and Ajannie Kelly (11.54) of St Elizabeth Technical.

Elsewhere on the track, Jamaica College’s Rushane Symister clocked a respectable 48.82 to win the boys' 400m open, ahead of Antonio Powell (49.01) of Edwin Allen, and while Kingston College’s Jaquan Coke (49.14).

Edwin Allen's Tonyan Beckford topped the girls' equivalent in 53.93. Her teammate Kellyann Carr (55.37) and Shanoya Douglas (55.53) of Muschette, were second and third, respectively.

Jamaica College's Dorian Charles (53.27) and Hydel’s Aaliyah Mullings (1:00.68) won the boys’ Class One and girls’ 400m hurdles Open events. Charles won ahead of teammate Sean Gardener (53.64) and Calabar’s Requel Reid (54.00), while Mullings also won ahead of teammate Nastassia Fletcher (1:03.36) and Vere Technical's Shevaughn (1:03.54).

Calabar's Robert Miller won the boys’ Class Two 400m hurdles in 54.38. He was followed by Shavoy Thompson (57.84) of Muschette, and Daniel Henry (57.92) of Wolmer's Boys.

2022 NACAC 100m champion Ackeem Blake will clash with American World champion Christian Coleman and Canadian Olympic champion Andre De Grasse in the men’s 60m at the Millrose Games in New York on February 11.

The 21-year-old Blake had a mixed season in 2023. On one hand, he lowered his 100m personal best to 9.89 at the LA Grand Prix on May 27.

On the other hand, Blake disappointingly failed to secure an individual spot for Jamaica’s 100m team at the World Championships in Budapest after finishing fourth in the 100m final at Jamaica’s national championships in July. He went on to be a part of Jamaica’s bronze medal quartet in the men’s 4x100m in Budapest.

Blake’s 60m personal best, 6.42, was done last season at the National Stadium.

The USA’s Coleman, in addition to his 2019 World Outdoor 100m title, won the World Indoor 60m title in 2018 and was runner-up in 2022.

He is the current world record holder in the event with 6.34 done at the US Indoor Championships in 2018.

Canada’s De Grasse has won a number of medals at the global level, most notably winning 200m gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and being part of Canada’s gold medal 4x100m quartet at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene.

He has a 60m personal best of 6.60 done all the way back in 2015.

Also in the field will be the USA’s 2018 World Indoor bronze medallist Ronnie Baker, Japanese record-holed Abdul Hakim Sani Brown and Puerto Rican record-holder Miles Lewis.

Jamaica's multiple World Championships and Olympic medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has been featured in the January/ February 2024 issue of Essence magazine.

The sprint queen made the announcement on her Instagram account on Thursday, as she revealed that the article in the American-based lifestyle magazine covers her life on and off the track.

“I had the pleasure of being featured in the Jan/Feb 24’ @essence issue that celebrates Black Women in Sports. Thank you @missjabali for the thoughtful interview where we discussed life both on and off the track. On stands now,” Fraser-Pryce said in her post.

The post which includes a carousel of five photos from the issue, gave followers a glimpse of Fraser-Pryce dressed in various outfits.

Fraser-Pryce was last featured in Essence magazine when she signed a deal with luxury watch brand Richard Mille in November last year.

Two-time World 100m hurdles champion Danielle Williams headlines a star-studded field assembled for the 60m hurdles at the Millrose Games set for February 11 in New York.

Williams shocked the world by winning her second World title last August with a 12.43 effort in Budapest.

She will be joined by countrywoman Ackera Nugent and fellow Caribbean star Devynne Charlton in the eight-woman field.

Nugent, who finished fifth at the World Championships in Budapest, dominated both the indoor and outdoor NCAA circuits last season.

She claimed the 60m hurdles title at the NCAA Indoor Championships in New Mexico in March with a brilliant 7.73 second effort, this after running a national record 7.72 in the semi-finals.

She followed that up with 100m hurdles gold at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Texas in June with a wind-aided 12.25.

Charlton is also well-credentialed both indoors and outdoors. She was a finalist in the 100m hurdles at the World Championships in Budapest, finishing sixth.

In 2022, she won silver in the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. That same year, she also took silver in the 100m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Also in the mix will be former World 100m hurdles record holder Keni Harrison, two-time World Indoor champion Nia Ali as well as Tia Jones, Alaysha Johnson and Masai Russell.

Six-time World champion Noah Lyles says his next goal is to add some indoor hardware to his collection.

Speaking in an interview with Trinidadian legend Ato Boldon last week, Lyles says his next goal is to take home the 60m world title at the upcoming World Indoor Championships set for March 1-3 in Glasgow, Scotland.

“The goal is to win the World Championships indoor,” the 26-year-old told Boldon.

To win that crown, Lyles will likely have to beat countryman and current World indoor 60m record holder, Christian Coleman, who took gold at the 2018 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham. Coleman set the current world record 6.34 earlier that year. 2022 World 100m champion Fred Kerley will also compete indoors this season.

Lyles is coming off a phenomenal 2023 outdoor season. He won a trio of gold medals at the World Championships in Budapest in August, becoming the first man since Usain Bolt to achieve the feat.

At those World Championships, Lyles produced a new personal best of 9.83 to win his maiden World 100m title.

Lyles also had one of his best indoor seasons last year, including a personal best 6.51 to win the 60m at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in New York last February.

He has never competed at the World Indoor Championships.