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2023’s top 10 moments in Jamaican athletics

Published:Sunday | December 31, 2023 | 12:11 AMHubert Lawrence - Gleaner Writer
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Shericka Jackson, moments after the women’s 200-metre finals earlier this year in the evening session of the 2023 World Athletics Champion held at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on Friday, August 25, 2023.
Gladstone Taylor / Multimedia Photo Editor
Shericka Jackson, moments after the women’s 200-metre finals earlier this year in the evening session of the 2023 World Athletics Champion held at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on Friday, August 25, 2023.
Gladstone Taylor / Multimedia Photo Editor Jamaica’s Danielle Williams celebrates her World Athletics Championship win in the women’s 100-metre hurdles at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 24.
Gladstone Taylor
Gladstone Taylor / Multimedia Photo Editor Jamaica’s Danielle Williams celebrates her World Athletics Championship win in the women’s 100-metre hurdles at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 24.
Antonio Watson running at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Antonio Watson running at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Silver medallist Wayne Pinnock (left) and bronze medallist Tajay Gayle of Jamaica, draped in their flags at the 2023 World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 24.
Gladstone Taylor
Silver medallist Wayne Pinnock (left) and bronze medallist Tajay Gayle of Jamaica, draped in their flags at the 2023 World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 24.
Hansle Parchment celebrates a silver medal in the 110-metre hurdles at the 2023 World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 21.
National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary
Hansle Parchment celebrates a silver medal in the 110-metre hurdles at the 2023 World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 21.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica celebrates a bronze medal in the women’s 100 metres at the 2023 World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 21.
Gladstone Taylor
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica celebrates a bronze medal in the women’s 100 metres at the 2023 World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 21.
Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton celebrates a bronze medal in the women’s 400-metre hurdles at the 2023 World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 24.
Gladstone Taylor
Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton celebrates a bronze medal in the women’s 400-metre hurdles at the 2023 World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 24.
Roshawn Clarke at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Gladstone Taylor
Roshawn Clarke at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Jaydon Hibbert at a Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association press conference at the Puma House, The Grund: in Budapest, Hungary on August 17.
Gladstone Taylor
Jaydon Hibbert at a Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association press conference at the Puma House, The Grund: in Budapest, Hungary on August 17.
Bouwahjgie Nkrumie of Kingston College reacts as he crosses the line in the Class 1 boys’ 100-metre final at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships inside the National Stadium in St Andrew, on March 29.
Gladstone Taylor
Bouwahjgie Nkrumie of Kingston College reacts as he crosses the line in the Class 1 boys’ 100-metre final at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships inside the National Stadium in St Andrew, on March 29.
Alana Reid
Gladstone Taylor
Alana Reid
Danniel Thomas-Dodd, of Jamaica, speaks with her coach during the women’s shot put final at the 2023 World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 26
Gladstone Taylor / Multimedia Photo Editor
Danniel Thomas-Dodd, of Jamaica, speaks with her coach during the women’s shot put final at the 2023 World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary on August 26
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IN 2023, JAMAICA had some fantastic moments, and today, on the eve of a new year, the start of the 2024 athletics season, and with the Paris Olympics to look forward to, taking a little peek at what has gone may be a great idea. Here are the Gleaner’s top moments on the track and in the field throughout 2023.

1. SHERICKA JACKSON - 21.41 SECONDS

Admit it. You began to worry, just a little, after Shericka Jackson lost the 100 in Budapest to American Sha’Carri Richardson. With the fresh legs of world-leading American Gabby Thomas leading the US line in the 200, there seemed to be danger.

The worry vanished after a few steps from the 29-year-old Jamaican in the final. She built up to her top speed and then, with an optimal blend of relaxation and strength, she held most of it all the way to the second fastest time ever - 21.41 seconds.

The world record is now only 0.07 seconds away.

Thomas and Richardson were marooned, despite times of 21.81 and 21.92.

2. DANIELLE WILLIAMS, GOLD IN THE 100 HURDLES

Danielle Williams kept her head in Budapest when all those around her lost theirs.

Fifth-fastest in the semi, Williams produced an inch-perfect run, timed in 12.43 seconds in the final to regain the title she first won in 2015.

There were faster runs in the heats and semis, a world-leading time of 12.24 seconds by Kendra Harrison in the heats, and 12.33 by Harrison in the semi. However, Williams was flawless in the final.

3. WATSON DID IT

Forty years after Bert Cameron won the first World Championships 400-metre gold medal, Antonio Watson crowned himself king of the event once known as the ‘quarter’. Watson unveiled a personal best 44.13 seconds in the semi and then added his second-best time ever - 44.22 seconds - to win the final over Matthew Hudson-Smith of Britain.

4. TWO-THREE-FOUR IN THE LONG JUMP!

Wayne Pinnock lost by two centimetres to Greek hero Miltiadis Tentoglu but, with 2019 winner Tajay Gayle third and Carey McLeod fourth, Jamaica achieved its finest World Championship field event team finish.

5. HANSLE STRIKES AGAIN

In Budapest, Hansle Parchment zoomed to his second World Championship 110 hurdles silver, matching the one he got in 2015.

6. BRONZE FOR SHELLY

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce went to the well once again and came up with a bronze medal in the 100. It was her sixth World Championship medal in the discipline.

A knee injury took away most of her great start, but Fraser is so mentally tough that she made the podium anyway.

7. 400H BRONZE FOR RUSHELL

In Budapest, Rushell Clayton broke the 53-second barrier and slipped past the great Deon Hemmings on the Jamaica all-time performance list, 52.81 to 52.82.

8. WORLD JUNIOR RECORD AND FOURTH FOR ROSHAWN

In April, Roshawn Clarke won the Carifta Games 400-metre hurdles in 49.92 seconds. For most Under-20 athletes, that would be a great season right there. Not Clarke.

He tied the world Under-20 record at the National Championships with a 47.85-second dash, and blazed a 47.34 in Budapest. Then, in his first race against the event’s big boys, he was fourth in the final.

9. WORLD JUNIOR RECORD FOR HIBBERT

In his first season in the US college season, Jaydon Hibbert bounced 17.54 metres, a world Under-20 record, to win the NCAA Indoor triple jump.

That big effort didn’t empty his tank.

Outdoors, he leapt to a world-leading mark of 17.87 metres, won the outdoor NCAA, and produced the longest jump overall in Budapest.

10. PURE SPEED AT CHAMPS

In the space of 10 minutes on Champs Wednesday, speed poured out on the blue track inside the National Stadium. Firstly, Alana Reid of Hydel High School strolled past Tina Clayton’s national junior 100-metre standard of 10.95 seconds with a fine run of 10.92 seconds. Then she, understandably, went berserk.

Moments later, Kingston College captain Bouwahjgie Nkrumie dashed the same strip of track in 9.99 seconds. Remarkably, the time made him the first Jamaican junior to break 10 seconds.

Look out for The Gleaner’s Year in Review, G2023, next Sunday.