Mon | Sep 9, 2024

On their marks!

J’cans determined to dominate Paris Olympics track and field

Published:Saturday | August 3, 2024 | 12:09 AMDaniel Wheeler/Gleaner Writer
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Rajindra Campbell competes in the men’s shot put Group A qualifiers at the Stade de France in Paris, France, yesterday. Campbell advanced to the final with a throw of 21.05 metres.
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Rajindra Campbell competes in the men’s shot put Group A qualifiers at the Stade de France in Paris, France, yesterday. Campbell advanced to the final with a throw of 21.05 metres.
Below: Natoya Goule Toppin celebrates her win in the women’s 800m round 1 heat 6 at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on Friday.
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Below: Natoya Goule Toppin celebrates her win in the women’s 800m round 1 heat 6 at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on Friday.
Tia Clayton of Jamaica reacts after placing second in heat 4 of the women’s 100m qualifiers at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on Friday.
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Tia Clayton of Jamaica reacts after placing second in heat 4 of the women’s 100m qualifiers at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on Friday.
Lamara Distin did not progress to the women’s high jump final after failing to clear 1.92m, finishing 11th in her qualifying group at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on Friday.
Gladstone Taylor
Lamara Distin did not progress to the women’s high jump final after failing to clear 1.92m, finishing 11th in her qualifying group at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on Friday.
Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (left) hugs Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast moments after placing second to Ta Lou’s 10.87 season’s best in heat 8 of the women’s 100m qualifiers at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on Friday.
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Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (left) hugs Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast moments after placing second to Ta Lou’s 10.87 season’s best in heat 8 of the women’s 100m qualifiers at the Stade de France in Paris, France, on Friday.
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Paris, France:

DECORATED SHELLY-ANN Fraser-Pryce’s last Olympic individual medal chase will see her in a fierce battle for another major final appearance as the opening day of track and field concluded at the Stade de France in Paris, France, yesterday.

Fraser-Pryce, who made her fifth straight Olympic appearance, secured passage in her first round heat, finishing second in 10.92 seconds, behind Marie-Josée Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast, who won in a season’s best of 10.82. Ta-Lou enters today’s semifinals at 12:50 p.m. Jamaica time as the fastest qualifier.

Tia Clayton made her Olympic debut finishing second in 11.00 in her heat behind Canada’s Audrey Ludec in a national record time of 10.95. Sashalee Forbes, who was a late replacement for world 200m Shericka Jackson, finished second in her heat in 11.19 behind the United States’ Twanisha Terry.

Forbes said that while her initial focus was on the relays in Paris, she was always ready to answer the call if needed and is fortunate to be in a position to compete.

“I had races after the national championships and as a professional, when I am called I am expected to show up and that is what I did. It wasn’t like I wasn’t training. So that’s exactly what I did,” Forbes told The Gleaner.

“I was quite surprised to make the team. If you asked me a week before if I would (go to Paris), I would probably tell you no. So I am really grateful.”

BANKING ON CHANGE IN STRATEGY

Two-time world championship silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts is banking on a change in strategy to give her the best chance of winning that elusive Olympic medal in the women’s triple jump final this afternoon at 1:20 Jamaica time.

Ricketts only needed one attempt to surpass the automatic qualifying distance of 14.35 to advance to today’s final with the best jump of the qualifiers.

“That is a factor amongst other things. It’s just getting majority of the jumps right on the day,” Ricketts told The Gleaner.

Her national teammate Ackelia Smith will contest her first Olympic final and her second major global championship final after her best effort of 14.09 was good enough to finish in the top 12.

Kimberly Williams missed out on the final after her best effort of 13.77 was not good enough to break into the top 12.

National champion and record holder Rajindra Campbell will make his second consecutive major global shot put final after his effort of 21.05 was enough to finish in the top 12.

Campbell said that being calm in the moment will increase his chances at Jamaica’s first Olympic medal in the event.

“I made the final which is the ultimate goal. It doesn’t matter how you make it just as long as you make it. I need to relax and execute. I’ve done the work already. I’m here, so I might as well go for it,” Campbell said.

QUEST TO END DROUGHT

Samantha Hall’s best effort of 54.94m was not enough to advance to the final of the women’s discus throw, finishing in 16th place in group A of qualifying.

Natoya Goule Toppin advanced to tomorrow’s women’s 800m semifinal, winning her heat in 1:58.66, while Adelle Tracey finished in eighth place in 1:58.74.

Jamaica will have a shot at mixed relay 4x400m glory at 1:55 p.m. after the team of Raheem Hayles, Junelle Bromfield, Zandrion Barnes and Stephenie Ann McPherson ran a national record time of 3:11.06 to qualify for the Olympic final. They will have a chance at their second major global medal in the event since the 2019 World Championships.

Yesterday’s morning session was not as fruitful for national champion and record holder Lamara Distin. She did not progress to the women’s high jump final after failing to clear 1.92m, finishing 11th in her qualifying group.

The men took the stage earlier this morning in the first session of day two in the men’s 100m first round.

The trio of national champion and world leader Kishane Thompson, Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake started their quest to end Jamaica’s eight-year global medal drought.

Tracey returns today in the women’s 800m repechage round to try and qualify for tomorrow’s semifinal.

editorial@gleanerjm.com