Promising young sprinter, Kiara Grant, insists she has every intention of returning to the island to compete for a spot on this summer’s Olympic team, despite a lengthy absence from its shores.
The former Jamaican U-20 100m record holder has spent the last few years at Norfolk State University, in the United States, where she has established herself as a top-rated prospect. During that time, however, Grant has not attempted to compete for a spot on any Jamaica junior or senior teams, despite having the talent to secure a spot. She admits that a combination of injury and focus on her academic studies has made it difficult to return for the country’s national trials.
With her academic program now coming to an end, however, and on the back of an indoor season where she recorded her fastest ever time (7.11), the athlete is hoping to make waves on her return.
“My aim this year is to get good times outdoors and I will definitely be coming down for the Olympic trials,” Grant told SportsMax.tv’s The Commentators Podcast.
“That’s my main goal for this year,” she added.
The 20-year-old Grant opened her outdoor season with 11.29 for second place in the 100m and 23.25 to win the 200m at the Gamecock Invitational at Gregger Park two weeks ago.
Julien Alfred named finalist for World Track Athlete of the Year among elite group of Olympic champions
St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred has been announced as one of only two finalists for the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, joining a select group of elite athletes recognized for their extraordinary achievements at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Alfred, who made history as the Olympic 100m champion, shares the nomination with America’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the 400m hurdles gold medalist, in one of the most prestigious categories of the World Athletics Awards.
Alfred’s selection is a testament to her incredible season and historic achievements, as she became the first St. Lucian to capture Olympic gold, blazing her way into the record books and capturing the pride of her nation and the Caribbean region.
In the men’s track category, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo stand as finalists for their outstanding performances. Ingebrigtsen, who won gold in the Olympic 5000m, showcased his tactical mastery and resilience in a fiercely contested race. Tebogo, meanwhile, surged to victory in the 200m final, demonstrating remarkable speed that highlighted his arrival on the global stage as one of the world’s top sprinters.
In the field events, Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam are recognized for their Olympic victories in high jump and heptathlon, respectively. Mahuchikh thrilled audiences with her powerful jumps that secured her the Olympic high jump title, while Thiam’s exceptional all-around abilities earned her a gold in the heptathlon, marking yet another milestone in her storied career.
For the men’s field category, Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis and Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou were selected as finalists. Duplantis, the Olympic pole vault champion, continued his dominance in the event with yet another gold, while Tentoglou captured the long jump title, showcasing his skill and consistency with a leap that secured him Olympic glory.
In out-of-stadium events, Kenyan marathon record-holder Ruth Chepngetich and Netherlands’ Olympic marathon champion Sifan Hassan are both celebrated for their monumental achievements on the road. Chepngetich has been a powerhouse in marathon running, while Hassan, already an established name on the track, made a remarkable transition to the marathon with her victory in Paris.
On the men’s side, Ecuador’s Brian Pintado and Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola are finalists for their triumphs in the Olympic 20km race walk and marathon, respectively. Pintado’s endurance and technique earned him gold in race walking, while Tola’s marathon victory in Paris reaffirmed his standing among the world’s premier distance runners.
The World Athletics Awards ceremony will celebrate these champions, recognizing their dedication and outstanding achievements that have pushed the boundaries of the sport. For Julien Alfred, this nomination highlights an unforgettable year, as her Olympic victory resonates deeply within her homeland and across the Caribbean, inspiring a new generation of athletes.
LaFond, Paulino among winners at USATF LA Grand Prix
World champions Thea LaFond and Marileidy Paulino were among the winners on day two of the USATF LA Grand Prix at the UCLA Drake Stadium on Saturday.
LaFond produced 14.37m in the fifth round to win ahead of Jamaican two-time World Championship silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts (14.36m) and American Tori Franklin (13.87m).
LaFond made history in March when she became the first Dominican to win gold at a World Athletics Championships. She produced a national record 15.01m to take top spot at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
Elsewhere on Saturday, reigning World 400m champion Marileidy Paulino remained unbeaten this season with 50.27 to win ahead of World 800m champion Mary Moraa (50.56) and American Alexis Holmes (50.73).
2011 World champion Kirani James was second in the men's equivalent in a season's best 44.85 behind American 2022 World champion Michael Norman Jr who won in 44.53. Vernon Norwood was third in 44.86.
World Championship finalist and world U-20 record holder Roshawn Clarke opened his season in the 400m hurdles with a respectable 48.11 to finish second behind American Rai Benjamin who ran a world leading 46.64. World Championship silver medallist Kyron McMaster was third in 48.51.
Andrenette Knight ran a season’s best 54.69 for second in the women’s equivalent behind American Anna Cockrell who ran a season’s best of her own with 53.75. Cassandra Tate was third in 55.02.
On Friday's day one, Jamaica's Roje Stona threw 66.93m to win the men's discus ahead of Chile's Claudio Romero (64.12m) and the USA's Brian Williams (63.36m).
Next time I touch the 100m: Kerley has sights set on Bolt’s world record
2022 World 100m champion Fred Kerley has his sights set on Usain Bolt’s 15-year-old 100m World Record.
In fact, the 29-year-old says that the next time he does the event, he will become the fastest man ever.
“World record next time I touch the 100m,” Kerley said on Twitter on Tuesday.
Usain Bolt’s mark stands at an incredible 9.58 done to win his maiden World Championship gold medal at the Berlin World Championships on August 16, 2009.
Bolt is the only man to ever run faster than 9.60 with Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake the only other men to run sub 9.70.
Gay and Blake both have a personal best of 9.69 to be joint-second on the all-time list.
Kerley, one of the only athletes ever to go sub-10 in the 100m, sub-20 in the 200m and sub-44 in the 400m, has a personal best of 9.76 done at the World Championships in 2022 in Eugene where he went on to claim 100m gold.
His time puts him in a three-way tie for sixth all-time alongside countrymen Christian Coleman and Trayvon Bromell.
Asafa Powell (9.72), Justin Gatlin (9.74) and Ferdinand Omanyala (9.77) make up the top ten.
This season, Kerley has competed four times in the 100m. He opened his season with a win at the Hurricane Invitational on March 16 in Coral Gables, Florida with 10.03 and followed that up at the same venue on April 6 in the Hurricane Alumni Invitational with 10.11 to also come out on top.
Kerley then competed at the season’s first two Diamond League events in Xiamen and Suzhou on April 20 and 27, respectively. He first ran 10.17 to finish second in Xiamen before running 10.11 for third in Suzhou.
He most recently competed at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational on May 11 where he ran 20.17 to finish second in the men’s 200m.
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