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Jamaicans stumble a little at 5th Reebok Grand Prix

RSS — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:59:06 +0000

RANDALL’S ISLAND, New York – It was a disappointing day for Jamaica’s seniors at yesterday’s 5th Reebok Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, as they failed to win any of the major races.

Despite an almost capacity pro-Jamaican crowd, the locals failed to shine, with the best finish being Kenia Sinclair’s second in the women’s 800m.

Pre-race favourite Asafa Powel was a disappointing seventh in the 100m, while three-time champion Veronica Campbell Brown was third in the women’s race.

The meet, which saw six world-leading performances, was highlighted by a scintillating 19.58secs-run by American Tyson Gay who destroyed a quality field in the 200m.

This was the third fastest time ever behind Usain Bolt’s world record 19.30secs and Michael Johnson’s 19.32 set in 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics.

Gay, who was second in Bolt’s 100m world record run over 100m here last year, got a bullet start and by the time they got to the curve was well ahead of the field and kept running through the tape.
Wallace Spearmon, who has won here for the past three years, was second in 19.98, while Xavier carter was third in 20.27.

Sinclair was well placed to win the two-lap event after being taken through the first 400m by pace-setter Sophia Smellie in 57.42 seconds and led until the last 100m befoe being overhauled by American steeplechaser Anna Willard.

Sinclair ran a season best 1:59.66 but lost to a world-leading 1:59.29.

She told Sunday Observer she ran “the third 200m too hard” and paid for it.

Steve Mullings was the best placed Jamaican in the Men’s 100m ‘A’ race, placing third in a wind aided 9.98secs (3.1 m/s) behind Americans Mike Rodgers (9.93) and Travis Padgett (9.96).

Mullings was later carried off the track with cramps, but was later seen walking unassisted.

The MVP trio of Powell, Michael Frater and Nesta Carter were a disappointing seventh, eighth and ninth.

Powell, who ran 10.10secs, later told reporters his injured ankle was still a problem. “It’s not painful but still weak and I couldn’t accelerate off it at all,” he said.

The powerful former world record holder, who will run at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, next weekend, said he is still hopeful he will get back to full fitness and is taking it a race at a time.

Jamaica’s only win came in the Men’s 100m B race where Yohan Blake shook off a false start to win in 10.20, while Winston Barnes was eighth in 10.37.

While failing to improve on his PR 10.07 set earlier this month, Blake was pleased with the run: “It was all right, I hoped to run faster but I will take this one.”

Campbell Brown was beaten in the women’s 100 for the .first time in four years at the meet, finishing third behind the American pair of Carmelita Jeter (10.85), wind 2.8 m/) and Muna Lee (10.88).

Sherri-Anne Brooks was ninth in 11.18 seconds.
Campbell Brown, who was competing in her second meet of the season, said she was not upset by the result, however.

“No, I’m not disappointed, just very happy to be able to get some races in and to be healthy again,” she said.

The two-time Olympic 200m champ said she was still undecided about running the sprint double at the National Trials in a month’s time.

“I’ve still not decided what I will do there,” she said adding, “I have the luxury (as the defending World champion) of skipping the 100m, but we’re still to decide…”

Aileen Bailey was third in the ‘B’ race in 11.07secs as Shalonda Solomon won in 11.04. Schillonie Calvert was sixth in 11.21.

Olympic silver medallist Sherika Williams was second in the 400m behind Allyson Felix of the US, who ran a world-leading 50.50secs.

Williams’ 50.58 makes her the fastest Jamaican this season, while Novelene Williams-Mills (51.11) was third, Shereefa Lloyd (51.18) fifth and Nadia Cunningham (53.85) eighth.

Ricardo Chambers was seventh in the men’s event in 46.02 as Trinidadian Rennie Quow took second in 44.89 behind winner LaShawn Merrit (44.75) – the fourth fastest time in the world this year.

Nickeisha Wilson, who said she had an ankle problem, was second in the 400m hurdles in 55.28, ahead Olympic champion Melaine Walker (55.29). Keliese Spencer was fifth in 55.92.

Shevon Stoddart was second in the first of two races and eighth overall with 56.19.

Walker told the Sunday Observer she “was ready to run but felt lazy and just did not get into the race at all”.

Frater clocked 10.15 and Carter 10.16.

IAAF would back Bolt’s quest for Olympic treble

RSS — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:51:47 +0000

NEW YORK, United States (CMC) – Track & field’s world governing body, the IAAF, say they are willing to consider altering the athletics schedule at the London Olympics to enable sprint phenomenon Usain Bolt to chase three individual gold medals.

BOLT… hinted at attempting 400m to add to Olympic treasure trove

Bolt, who captured the 100 metres and 200 metres in Beijing last year, has already hinted at attempting the 400 metres to add to his Olympic treasure trove.

That feat has never been achieved by an athlete, given the hectic timetable between the 200m and 400m, but IAAF spokesman Nick Davies said recently consideration would be given to rearranging the schedule to accommodate Bolt’s ambitions.

“To win all three sounds incredible,” Davies was quoted as saying in the Courier-Mail.

“If Usain continues to do amazing things, is super motivated, we’d be insane not to consider it.

“He might not like the 400m and he reiterated when in Manchester that he does want to defend his Olympic 100m and 200m titles.

“But it’s more interesting for Bolt because everyone thought he would develop as a 400m runner.”

The IAAF officials are expected to stage their first meeting to consider the programme schedule for the London Games this October at which the topic could be discussed.

The 22-year-old Jamaica’s first assignment, however, is to repeat as sprint champion at the World Championships in Berlin in August.

“If [Bolt] wins the 100m and 200m in Berlin I think it would be strongly considered and (London Organising Committee chairman) Sebastien Coe is an athletics guy and he would be over the moon to have that.”

DRESONIC-JAMAICAN TRACK & FIELD 2009-05-20 07:49:10

RSS — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:49:10 +0000

MONACO (AP) – IAAF president Lamine Diack has reminded triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt of his “responsibility” as a champion.

BOLT… key athlete in sport of track & field

Diack said yesterday he has spoken to the 22-year-old Jamaican sprinter about the extra pressures he would face following his stunning performances in Beijing last August.

“You’re the key athlete in our sport and you have a responsibility,” Diack told a small group of reporters. “He’s not a movie star or singer – he’s a champion. (So) if you are fit, you make the performance or you are finished.”

Bolt won three gold medals in Beijing last year, all in world record times, but has made off-the-track headlines since then by being photographed in nightclubs, talking about marijuana use and crashing his car last month.

“Now you have a major responsibility,” Diack said he told Bolt. “Now you are the major star.”

Bolt set world records in the 100 and 200 at Beijing and was a member of the record-breaking relay team.
He beat Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey’s time in the rarely run 150 metres on Sunday in a street race in Manchester, England. Diack praised his performance but said he doesn’t expect street races to become a trend.

“Our sport is in the stadium. The future is not on the street,” Diack said. “This is only for promotion.”

Diack spoke on the day the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced a three-year sponsorship deal with Samsung. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Diack said the agreement followed six years of talks with the Korean electronics company.

The deal covers this summer’s World Championships in Berlin, the 2010 world indoors in Doha, Qatar, and the 2011 world outdoors in Daegu, South Korea.

“Daegu is their hometown,” Diack said. “I will discuss it with them after that to continue.”

PowPow ready to rumble – its about time…!!!

RSS — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:47:29 +0000

Former 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell says he is almost recovered from the left ankle injury which forced him to withdraw from the Qatar Grand Prix on May 8 after conceding he erred in competing at the 115th Penn Relays Carnival on April 25.

POWELL… everything is looking smooth right now because I’m trying not to make any more bad decisions.

“Everything is looking smooth right now because I’m trying not to make any more bad decisions. I made a bad decision to run at the Penn Relays. but now I’m just working, training hard and trying to get back the ankle to 100 per cent,” Powell told the Observer after training on Monday.

“I’d say I’m 90 per cent ready right now,” added the 2007 World 100m bronze medallist.

Running the anchor leg on Jamaica’s 4×100 team at the Penn Relays with his injured left ankle heavily strapped, Powell trotted to the finish line gingerly after aggravating the damage he sustained in training in early April.

A day before the race, Powell’s agent Paul Doyle indicated the second fastest man in the world would not compete in the sprint relay because he was feeling some discomfort in the ankle.

Now, with the injury almost fully healed and with 10 days to his next scheduled 100m race – at the New York Grand Prix on May 30 – Powell hopes to produce a worldleading mark.

“I don’t really have a time in mind, (but) it’s my second race (after Australia), so I want to go there and put down a benchmark because the fastest time for the year is 10-flat and that’s really nothing right now, so I want to go below that and continue from there, remaining on top,” a confident Powell said.

“Coming off last season, I made a promise to myself that I’m going to really come back and try to get below that 9.7 mark and got injured, but I’m still not going to let that stop me from achieving what I want this year,” he reasoned, noting that he hopes to be fourth time lucky at the Berlin World Championships in August.

Powell was disqualified after a false-start at the quarter-final stage at the 2003 Paris World Championships; missed the 2005 Helsinki edition with a groin injury, before giving up a lead at the Osaka 2007 World Championships to finish third.

The sprinter, who is three wins away from eclipsing American Maurice Greene’s record (52) of the most sub-10 clocking, believes he has finally got over the psychological problems which beset him at major championships.

“I find myself going into competitions with a different focus, so I think what we’re doing right now is really helping and we’re just working on every point that we think is weak. It’s just to wait on the World Championships and we’ll see what happens,” he declared.

Meanwhile, Powell expressed satisfaction with the performance of compatriot Usain Bolt, who showed no signs of discomfort while posting a world best 14.35 seconds in winning a 150-metre street race on Sunday in Manchester, England.

“It was a very good run. I’m sure he can do better because he’s just coming back (after his car accident), and he still represented well,” he reasoned.

“I’m really looking forward to competing with him this year because he did well last year and he knows that I’m still here breathing down his back and he can’t make any mistakes,” Powell added.

Bolt first erased Powell’s world record of 9.74secs at the New York Grand Prix with 9.72 before posting 9.69secs to win the Olympic 100m gold in Beijing.

Bolt healing well – Update

RSS — Wed, 06 May 2009 01:31:45 +0000

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Usain Bolt had stitches removed from his left foot today after his auto crash last week and the Beijing Olympic hero and sprint world record-holder is set to resume training next week.

Norman Peart, manager for the Jamaican sprint star, said he expects to keep Bolt out the remainder of the week to be certain he is rested and fully healed before resuming workouts.

“He is healing well,” Peart said. “He could be back in training in a couple of days. I think he will allow the week to run off though and start afresh next week.” Bolt had minor surgery to remove thorns that pierced his foot when he exited from the wreckage of his BMW M3 after it skidded off the highway and overturned in a ditch last Wednesday.

Bolt missed last Saturday’s Jamaica International Invitational track meet, but could be ready for a planned street race in Manchester, England on May 17.

Jamaica International Invitational – Update

RSS — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:00:37 +0000

JAMAICAN Olympic 100-metre silver medallist Kerron Stewart and Javier Culson produced world-leading times in the 100m and 400 metres hurdles to highlight last night’s sixth staging of the Jamaica International Invitational Meet at press time at the National Stadium.

Competing in front of an estimated crowd of 8,000, Stewart exploded from the blocks and took control of the race at the 30-metre mark before crossing the line in a new meet record 10.92secs (wind +1.2 m/s).

She had established the old mark of 10.96secs last year. American Marshevet Hooker finished five metres behind in 11.14, followed by Olympic champion Shelly Ann Fraser and Aleen Bailey, who both posted 11.15 for third and fourth, respectively.

The men’s equivalent went to American Darvis Patton in 10.02 (wind + 0.1 m/s), the same time as runner-up Daniel Bailey of Antigua and Barbuda.

2007 Pan American silver medallist Nickiesha Wilson on the way to victory in the women’s 400m hurdles event at last night’s 6th staging of the Jamaica International Invitational Meet at the National Stadium. Wilson clocked 55.20 seconds. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

National Junior record holder Yohan Blake was third in 10.07, while Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson of Trinidad & Tobago was fourth in the same time.

Javier Culson produced a new Puerto Rico national record of 48.42secs to win the men’s 400m hurdles after outsprinting Jamaica’s Isa Phillips (48.79secs).

American Michael Tinsley was third in 48.81, while 2004 Olympic bronze medallist Danny McFarlane was fourth in 48.85.

The women’s event went 2007 Pan American silver medallist Nickiesha Wilson in 55.20s with Kaliese Spencer of MVP second in 55.89 ahead of Trinidad’s Josanne Lucas, 56.16.
Jon Rankin of the US won the men’s 1500m in 3:46.86 ahead of Kenya’s Frederck Musyoki (3:49.33) and Josephat Kithii (3:49.43).

Earlier, Edwin Allen High retained their 4×100m title in 45.75secs from Holmwood (46.09) and The Queen’s (46.27).
Calabar took the boys’ event in 40.66 ahead of St Jago (40.86) and Camperdown (41.15).

Jamaica International Invitational meet in full motion

RSS — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:19:19 +0000

ALTHOUGH missing injury stricken Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Veronica Campbell-Brown, organizers are insisting that today’s sixth staging of the Jamaica International Invitational meet will still produce many top-class performances.

Chairman of the organizing committee for the IAAF Area Permit meet, Howard Aris, told Sporting World that track and field fans will have a treat inside Kingston’s National Stadium, starting at 6:30 pm.
Jamaican 100m Olympic silver medallist Kerron Stewart (right) and USA’s leading 400m women’s runner Jamaican-born Sanya Richards go through their paces at the National Stadium yesterday in preparation for today’s Jamaica International Invitational meet.

“We have an excellent field of athletes and very competitive events and we look forward to another outstanding evening of entertainment in track and field, as we have been witnessing for the past five years,” Aris said.

Athletes’ liaison and 1976 200m Olympic champion Donald Quarrie noted that even with the absence of Bolt and Campbell-Brown, “the overall quality of the competitors” will lead to excellent times.

The optimism from Aris and Quarrie for quality performances, is easily justified given the high calibre of athletes, listed to face the starter in more than 20 events.

The women’s 100m and 400m, as well as the men’s 400m hurdles, 100m and Shot Put should be among the hotly contested races on the three-hour programme.
Jamaican 100m hurdler Deloreen Ennis-London works out at the National Stadium yesterday as she prepares for today’s Jamaica International Invitational meet. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Shelly-Ann Fraser, who posted a mind-boggling 10.78secs to win the 100m in Beijing and silver medallist Kerron Stewart with a personal best of 10.80secs, will square off against the American pair of Marshevet Hooker and Bianka Knight.

Fraser told Sporting World that she will be using the race to fix her technique flaws, even as she faces some tough competitors.

“I’m just looking to accomplish a good time and to execute a proper race because right now it’s all about my start and technique that I’m focusing on at training,” Fraser said.

Kelly-Ann Baptiste of Trinidad and Tobago as well as Jamaicans Aleen Bailey and Schillonie Calvert completes the crack 100m field.

The men’s equivalent will feature Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago, American Darvis Patton, Jamaican junior record holder Yohan Blake and Dwight Thomas, as well as the 2003 World champion Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis.

Melaine Walker, the Olympic 400m hurdles record holder and gold medallist, will step down to the flat 400m to face-off against the current world number one, American Sanya Richards.

They will be joined by Rosemarie White, the seventh-placed finisher in Beijing, as well as 2007 World Championship bronze medallist Novlene Williams, along with rising stars Sonita Sutherland, Bobby-Gaye Wilkins and Moya Thompson.

The men’s 400m hurdles will pit Jamaica’s Danny McFarlane, the fourth-placed finisher in Beijing, against the silver medallist and current world number one Kerron Clement of the USA.

McFarlane, the Olympic silver medallist from Athens 2004, says despite a niggling calf problem, he is close to full fitness and will put on a good show today.

“I’m not a hundred per cent right now… I’m about 85 to 90 per cent, so I’ll go out there and see what can happen,” McFarlane said, noting that it will be his second race of the season after posting 49.96secs one week ago.

Clement, who posted 47.79secs to win here last year, told Sporting World he’s aiming to run a similar time today.

“It is my first 400 hurdle race (of the season) and I’m just looking forward to run an even race and winning in a similar time like last year,” Clement said. Olympic semi-finalist Isa Phillips will also face the starter in the one-lap obstacle race. The men’s Shot Put with world number two Christian Cantwell of the USA and Jamaica’s national record holder Dorian Scott should produce some big throws.

Money not priority for Bolt

RSS — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:46:39 +0000

BOLT… only 22 years old and has 10 years to chase money

Chasing money on the European circuit will not be among the top priorities of the 2008 IAAF male Athlete of the Year Usain Bolt, next season. That’s the word from track and field agent, Ricky Simms, who has been managing the affairs of Jamaica’s triple Olympic gold medallist on the international scene since 2004.

“I think what is more important for Bolt is that he’s not chasing money,” Simms told the Observer in Monaco last month, where the lanky sprinter became only the third Jamaican to receive the prestigious IAAF Award Athlete of the Year.

“He’s got a programme that is progressive. Coach Mills will dictate where he runs to get him ready for the World Championships and his performance will come first as opposed to chasing money on the circuit because he’s only 22 years old and he’s got 10 years to chase money, so he doesn’t have to do that yet,” he added.

During the World Athletics Gala in Monaco last month, Bolt indicated that he would not be attempting to win the US$1-million European Golden League jackpot as he focuses on the World Championships in Germany.

“The priority will be the World Championships in August in Berlin. In 2010 things will be different,” the Jamaican track star said.

Simms disclosed that Bolt will command the highest appearance fees next season after his superb performances in the 100m, 200m and 4×100m relays at this summer’s Beijing Olympics.

“He’s the most valuable athlete on the circuit… and all the meets will like to have him of course,” Simms said.

In August, Bolt became Jamaica’s first ever Olympic 100m champion by clocking a world record 9.69 seconds despite easing up in the last 15 metres; posted 19.30 secs to erase American Michael Johnson’s 12-year-old 200m mark of 19.32, before helping the 4×100m relay team to gold in another world record of 37.10secs.

Bolt could receive as much as US$200,000 to appear in a single race, even as the world economic crisis takes its toll.

“Some meets, their budgets are not big enough to have him and that’s a problem that they’ll have, so the market will dictate what he can receive,” added Simms who also manages two other Jamaicans – sprint hurdler Delloreen Ennis-London and quarter-miler Germaine Gonzales.

Bolt to make BMW stop-over in Germany

RSS — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:14:39 +0000

Bolt's BMW

Triple Olympic gold medal winner, Usain Bolt, is to stop over in Germany on his way to the International Associations of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF’s) Gala event in Monaco to take up offers for specialised driving lessons from auto makers BMW.

The 22-year-old, who left the island yesterday, was given a “fully loaded” custom made BMW M3 as a birthday gift from apparel sponsors, Puma, days after his exploits at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China. He is to attend the world famous BMW ‘M’ driver school at Nuremberg Ring in Germany.

The offer came on August 23 during a press conference in Beijing where Puma CEO, Jochen Zeitz, made the announcement.

The driving lessons came as an initiative from Stewarts Autos, the dealers for BMW in Jamaica.

Just prior to Bolt’s return from the Olympics and raced on the European circuit, chairman of Stewarts Motors, Richard Stewart, told the Observer of their plans to ensure that the world’s fastest man gets the necessary training to maneuver the powerful sports car.

“We are very conscious of the fact that really and truly with a car of this nature we need to send him (Bolt) to what is called the BMW ‘M’ driver school, so we are co-ordinating that with BMW, and of course we are looking forward to hosting him with BMW in Germany at a future date after we deliver the car here in Jamaica,” he said then.

Bolt, meanwhile, is expected to walk away with at least two awards at this Sunday’s Gala, which will be held in the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting Club d’Ete in the Principality of Monaco.

The lanky Jamaican, who broke the 100m and 200m world records, clocking 9.69 and 19.30 seconds, respectively, at the Olympics and was part of the 4×100m relay team which ran a world record 37.10 seconds, has been nominated for the Male Athlete-of-the-Year as well as two nominations for the Performance-of-the-Year awards.

Bolt’s performances in the 100m and 200m at the Olympic are among the top three performances nominated.

The other awards to be given out on Sunday are: Revelation of the Year, Rising Star Award, Distinguished Career Award, Inspirational Award and Coaches Award.

Bolt, who has previously won two Rising Star awards, is the first man since compatriot Don Quarrie to hold the 100m and 200m world records simultaneously. He broke the 100m twice in the space of four months after running 9.72 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York on May 31.

He has also run a record seven times under 9.85 seconds for the 100m this season, as well as a record five times under 19.85 seconds in the 200m this season.

American Carl Lewis questions Bolt’s Olympic performances

RSS — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:50:23 +0000

MIAMI, USA (CMC) – American Olympic legend Carl Lewis has raised stern doubts over Usain Bolt’s recent stunning performances but has stopped short of accusing the Jamaican sprint marvel of doping.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Lewis also lashed out at Jamaica’s drug-testing programme, saying that it too needed to be examined in light of the fact there was no random drug-testing of athletes.
“When people ask me about Bolt I say he could be the greatest athlete of all-time. But for someone to run 10.03 one year and 9.69 the next, if you don’t question that in a sport that has the reputation it has right now, you’re a fool. Period,” Lewis contended.
“I’m proud of America right now because we have the best random and most comprehensive drug-testing programme. Countries like Jamaica do not have a random programme so they can go months without being tested.
“No one is accusing Bolt, but don’t live by a different rule and expect the same kind of respect. How dare anybody feel that there shouldn’t be scrutiny, especially in our sport?”
Bolt raised eyebrows in Beijing last month when he jetted to World Record times in capturing three gold medals at the 29th Olympiad.
He clocked 9.69 seconds to win the 100 metres and returned to break American Michael Johnson’s 12-year-old, 200 metres record of 19.32 seconds with a new time of 19.30. In the process, Bolt became the first athlete in 24 years – Lewis was the last in 1984 – to win the coveted the sprint double.
The 22-year-old then crowned a fine outing with his third gold as a member of the Jamaica sprint relay team.
Bolt, along with the other Jamaican sprinters, were tested repeatedly at the Beijing Olympics but none of the results returned positive.
Lewis, the star of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics with four gold medals, said he also questioned Jamaican Veronica Campbell-Brown’s failure to make the 100 metres team for the recent Olympics.
“Veronica Campbell-Brown lives in the United States and has been transparent and consistent,” Lewis pointed out.
“She won the Worlds last year in the 100 metres and this year can’t even make the team. Are you going to tell me that shouldn’t be questioned?”
Dr Herb Elliott, the Jamaican team doctor who is also a member of the IAAF anti-doping commission, hit back saying: “They still think we don’t know anything down in Jamaica.
“I am the person who tests in Jamaica, and I tested Bolt 15 times between last November and December.”