Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had their names etched in history as the most decorated male and female athletes after they dominated the 14th World Athletics Championships 2013 held in Moscow between August 10 and 18. With two Olympiqf gold medals (2008 and 2012) already in her cabinet, Fraser-Pryce, also 26 years old, came to the championships ready to make a mark. Her pink dyed hair was an apt compliment to her pink nail polish and pink running shoes. Host country Russia topped the medal ranking with 17, including seven gold, while the USA snatched 25 medals, but only six gold medals. Jamaica also had six gold medals in its total tally of 9 medals.
Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, believes that newly crowned World 100m champion and the second-fastest man over 200m, Yohan Blake, is a source of inspiration for Jamaica's youth and encouraged the 21-yearold to remain humble and respectful. "I have a soft spot for Yohan and have always felt that he is a special athlete, having followed his career since he was a student at St Jago," Grange said. "So when Usain false started, I was confident that he would rise to the occasion and win. When Everyone was shocked about the false start, I was focused on Jamaica winning because I knew Yohan would make it happen."
Alando Terrelonge, the lawyer representing embattled national sprinter Steve Mullinge, says in light of last weeks ruling by members of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) disciplinary panel not to accept into evidence an affidavit by Mullings, it is very likely that the case could be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). According to Terrelonge, who along with Patrick Bailey are representing Mullings, they are looking at taking the case to CAS. They will base their argument on an unfair hearing, as Mullings in the affidavit explained to the panel that he could not attend the hearing due to the fact that he is being 'set up', and he is 'fearful for his life'.
"Certainly within the United States all of the top level athletes are excited about it. I think we will also get a lot of Caribbean athletes involved and hopefully a lot of the top Caribbean athletes as well," [Paul Doyle] added. 'We have five dates so far but we have interest from other cities since we made the announcement. We are adding entertainment aspect with a live band and cheerleaders." Doyle said. "We are hoping that within a couple of years the momentum of the series will build very quickly and it will grow into a viable option. These are very much made-for-tv events."
Sunday, the quartet of Brandon Tomlinson, Bernado Brady, Odane Skeen and Dexter Lee, produced a season best 39.55 seconds to pick up the silver medal in the boy's 4x100, finishing second behind the US, who won in a world-leading time of 38.93 seconds, the second fastest ever at these championships. Trinidad and Tobago picked up their second medal of the Championships as they finished third for the bronze in a season best 39.72 seconds.
Jamaica again led the Caribbean's medal haul at an international track and field event by finishing fifth at the LAAF World Indoor Championship last month in Poland, with super sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce earning one of the region's two gold medals by winning the 60 meters. Cuba's Yarisley Silva claimed the Caribbean's other gold by winning the women's pole vault. Teammates Ernesto Reve and Pedro Pablo Pichardo won silver and bronze, respectively, in the men's triple jump to propel the Spanish-speaking nation to a top 10 finish in the medal standing.
Following his two successes in the 200 metres, Olympic and World champion Bolt is leading in this event with 12 points and is followed by the United States' Walter Dix in second on eight points with Norway's Jaysuma Saida in third with five points. The United Sates' Lashina Demus is third with six points, two more than Jamaican Melaine Walker who is fourth on four points. Kenia Sinclair has been having a wonderful season so far in the Women's 800 metres and following her easy victory over the past weekend at the Stockholm meet, she is the leader here with eight points and is followed by South African Caster Semenya on seven points and Morocco's Halima Hachlaf on six.
[Simpson]'s case will be heard on January 7 and 8 while [Powell]'s will come up a week later on January 14 and 15. Powell was not happy about the January hearing dates but the challenge faced by the panel is that [Robinson] will be representing JADCo in the cases of Allison Randall, Demar Robinson and Través Smikle which are set to be concluded by December 17 this year. Both athletes were present at the preliminary hearing held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.
"Two of our distinguished athletes, Asafa [Powell] and [Sherone Simpson], have been advised of adverse analytical findings in their A' samples taken during an in-competition test on June 21, 2013," read [James]' release. "Whilst the Adverse Analytical Findings are unfortunate and disappointing, the club continues to stand by and support Sherone and Asafa during this time, and we will be following the developments in this matter closely and will endeavour to support and protect the rights of these two great athletes, so as to ensure a fair hearing for them and a just resolution of the issues involved."
Coach Glen Mills is predicting 'fireworks' from his 21-year-old charge, Yohan Blake, at the upcoming World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, following the athlete's close second to former world record holder Asafa Powell in the men's 100 metres at the recently concluded Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association/Supreme Ventures National Senior Championships. "Yohan was not healthy at the meet, and come World Championships we will see the best from Yohan as I expect a lot of fireworks from him," said Mills, whose athlete clocked 10.09 seconds. Powell won in 10.08.