TWO-TIME Olympic relay gold medallist, Michael Frater, will be looking to keep Jamaica sprinting atop the podium in the 60 metre dash at the New York Road Runners Millrose Games on February 15, 2014. But the 31-year-old's task won't be easy as three young Americans - US Olympian Isiah Young, and 2013 NCAA champions D'Angelo Cherry, and Ameer Webb - will be in on the chase. 'The Armory is one of my most favourite places to race," said Cherry, who won 60m titles at the US and NCAA Championships last winter. "I'm in good shape and looking forward to running a great race at the Millrose Games."
The bowler was a key part of the the West Indies ICC World T20 Championship triumph 11 months ago, but found himself out of favour with the selectors after a patchy run of form. However, the player put in a sensational effort to help the Jamaica Tallawahs claim the Limacol Caribbean Premier League regional T20 tournament, and has carried that form into the regional A team's series against India. While quick to admit that the road back to top form is yet a work in progress, the bowling allrounder says he is confident and physically ready, should a recall be made.
"It was a really hard tournament, but I surprised myself by reaching the semis," said [Bicknell]. "These players are very good, but the tournaments I have played earlier this year have really prepared me well." "I would like to thank my parents and coaches, who have helped to develop my career," a very elated Bicknell said. "He has improved tremendously, listens well, is very competitive, trains non-stop and is very focused. I know he will win one of these high-level tournaments in the future," predicted [Mel Spence].
In one of the rare occasions that the big sprinter failed to break the 10-second barrier, he was chased to the line by Racers Track club teammate Kemar Bailey-Cole, who posted an identical time. Another teammate of Bolt's Antiguan Daniel Bailey was third in a time of 10.23.
'It wasn't easy," said Jamaica coach Winfried Schäfer. "Costa Rica are a very good team. At 1-0 down, I change team. The goalkeeper did well in the first half and not too well in the second half. We still have [a] chance. Next game is against US in US in a month's time. We thank 'Tuffy'." Striker [Jermaine] 'Tuffy' [Anderson] hails the Jamaican crowd following the 1-1 draw against Costa Rica in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying action at the National Stadium. Anderson scored for Jamaica.
Spectacular and devastating were the two words being used in abundance last Saturday night, as fans described the fourth-round knockout victory scored by World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion, Jamaica's Nicholas 'The Axeman' Walters, over Mexico's Alberto Garza at the American Bank Center, in Corpus Christi,Texas.
Jamaica is drawn in Group A', along with Cuba, Canada, Chile and Venezuela. Group 'B' consists of Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. The top two teams from each group qualify for the semifinal where the top team of group A' will play the runner-up of Group 'B', and vice versa. The semifinal winners will advance to the Final. "This is a brand new experience for me and I am excited for the opportunity," said [Monique Salmon]. "I am new to the team, so I am looking forward to learning and contributing in every way possible. This is a dream come true."
[Veronica Campbell-Brown] found herself back in seventh place at one stage in the race, but powered her way past the field, which included longstanding nemesis Allyson Felix, to win in 11.01 seconds. Felix (11.13) placed fifth, with Trinidad and Tobago's KellyAnn Baptiste (1 1 .06) second and Jamaica's Carrie Russell (11.08) third. "I felt a little bit of energy in my last couple steps to push forward. It was so electrifying (inside the stadium), I could hear people in the stands saying, 'It is your home, don't let anybody beat you." It is always good to compete here, it is very fun and the crowd motivates me a lot, so it is great."
"I want to go," [Warren Weir] revealed. "From a very long time, I have said that there should be a meet somewhere on the European circuit that allows us to run the 4x200m." "Seeing that there is a meet in the Caribbean, I would want to go, even if the other Racers athletes are not thinking of going. I would like to put a team together and go," Weir said. "I want to have my name on a world-record plaque somewhere that will stand for a very long time and I don't think the big man (Bolt) will turn down a world record, so we should look forward to that." "It was a wonderful season and I am pleased with everything I have accomplished," Weir said. "Hopefully, I will be number one for the 200m. We will see when next season ends. But that would be only the icing on the cake."
His season-opener, which is just six centimetres off the A standard mark of 66 metres, saw [Jason Morgan] being ranked number one in the world at the time. He has since been supplanted by Australia's 22-year-old phenom, Julian Wruk, who since March 30 has recorded throws of 66.0lm, 66.05m and 66.32m. Morgan's mark now ranks him the second-best thrower in the world this year.
