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Day 9 – Evening
Nine medals for Jamaica!
Jamaica finished the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with nine medals, all from athletics. Four gold, one silver and four bronze.
The 4x400m women’s team added one bronze to the medal tally on the final day when the quartet of Roneisha McGregor, Janieve Russell, Shericka Jackson and Candice McLeod won bronze. They posted a season’s best 3:21.24 behind winners the United States, 3:16.85 and Poland 3:20.53. The United States led all the way followed by Poland. McLeod got the baton 4th but fought well to pass Canada’s Sage Watson in the home stretch to take the last medal on offer.
In the men’s 4x400m final, the team of Demish Gaye, Christopher Taylor, Jaheel Hyde and Nathon Allen worked hard throughout but were unable to get close enough to the medals and finished 6th in a season’s best of 2:58.76. The United States won in 2:55.70, the Netherlands was 2nd in 2:57.18 and Botswana 3rd in 2:57.27
Congratulations to all the Olympians who proudly and valiantly represented Jamaica.
Day 8 – Evening
Women take sprint relay gold!
Jamaica’s women celebrated Independence Day in style, grabbing a gold medal in the sprint relay to add to the seven harnessed earlier. The quartet of Briana Williams, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson ran a national record of 41.02 and were a cut above the field.
This gold medal is the third for Thompson at these games and the fourth for Jamaica.
The men’s 4×100 team of Jevaughn Minzie, Julian Forte, Yohan Blake and Oblique Seville were fifth in 37.84.
The women’s 400m final proved an unhappy hunting ground for Jamaica. Undoubtedly the best chance of a medal, Stephenie Ann McPherson, with 49.61, was overhauled in the last 50m for the bronze medal by all-time great Allyson Felix who ran a season’s best of 49.46. The improving Candice McLeod finished 5th with 49.87.
Shaunae Miller-Uibo defended her title with a personal best of 48.36 with Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic second in a personal best of 49.20.
Demish Gaye, Jaheel Hyde, Karayme Bartley and Nathon Allen put in a decent display on the heats of the men’s 4x400m relay. They were third for most of the way but a convincing final leg by Allen saw him overall Johnathan Borlee to take second in a season’s best 2:59.29 behind winners Poland 2:58.55. Jamaica time was just seventh overall.
The final will be super competitive as there were five teams under three minutes in the first heat led by the United States with 2:58.77. Finalist in the 400m, Christopher Taylor, among others could be added.
Day 7 – Evening
Christopher Taylor was in the spotlight in the final of the 400m on the evening of day seven. Drawn way out in lane 9, he flew for 250m. He displayed superb strength and grit, holding his form and finishing well even with the battle for a medal taking place ahead of him. Taylor fought like we know he can and finished with a personal best of 44.79. He will return.
The winner was Bahamian Steve Gardiner who came home in 43.85 with Anthony Zambrano of Colombia second in 44.08 and 2012 Olympics Champion Kirani James third with 44.19.
The quartet of Junelle Broomfield, Roneisha McGregor, Janieve Russell and Stacey Ann Williams were good enough for second in their 4x400m relay semifinal with a time of 3:21.95. Favorites the United States were in front with 3:20.86. Candice McLeod and Stephanie Ann McPherson, finalists in the 400m, are ready and could be added.
Day 7 – Morning
Parchment and Levy star in hurdles!
Jamaican athletes were in punishing form on the morning of day seven, with almost every move producing a positive result.
Starman was Hansle Parchment who produced a tremendous burst of speed to catch and pass American favourite Grant Holloway and win gold in the 110m hurdles. National champion Ronald Levy gave Jamaica double delight as he grabbed bronze. Parchment, who picked up a bronze in the event in London 2012, won in 13.04 with Holloway 2nd in 13.09 and Levy 13.10.
Jamaica was winning the event in consecutive games as Omar McLeod won in 2016. The two medals see Jamaica with seven (7) medals including three gold.
In the women’s sprint relay semifinals, the quartet of Briana Williams, Natasha Morrison, Remona Burchell and Shericka Jackson were good enough for third with 42.15 behind the Unites States and winners Great Britain who posted 41.55 and 41.99 respectively. Jackson received the baton well behind the American anchor and closed rapidly. With Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce coming in for the final run, Jamaica should do well.
Jamaica’s men were even better. The team of Jevaughn Minzie, Julian Forte, Yohan Blake and Oblique Seville led throughput and went to post a very good 37.81 in winning their heat.
Day 6 – Evening
Jamaica will be represented by two excellent medal prospects in the women’s 400m final. Candice McLeod produced another personal best with a gutsy run in the semifinals of the 400m. The vastly improved runner finished like a Mack truck as she drove her way into second place in 49.51.
Stephenie Ann McPherson went one better by winning her semifinal, also in a personal best of 49.34. She positioned herself well behind Allyson Felix and ran away from her coming off the final turn to take the win easing up
.The third semifinalist, Roneisha McGregor also ran well but did not make the cut. She ran a good 50.34 for third but did not qualify on time.
Jamaica’s sole representative in the 200m final, Rasheed Dwyer, running from lane 9, gave all he got in the final and it took him to 7th in a time of 20.21 behind winner Andre Degrasse of Canada in 19.62.
Day 6 – Morning
Janieve Russell ran the race of her life in the final of the 400m Hurdles but came up short of a medal. She finished 4th in a personal best 53.08 but a long way behind the medallists who were in a league of their own.
In third was Femke Bol of the Netherlands with a personal best of 52.03 with former record holder Delilah Mohammad second with 51.58, a time that is faster than the old world record.
The winner was Sydney McLaughlin who posted an astounding new world record of 51.46! Russell was fantastic but was outclassed on this occasion. Well done.
The male sprint hurdlers were on track as well and two were able to advance to the final. Ronald Levy showed guts and fight as he won his semifinal in 13.23. Hansle Parchment was second in his semifinal with a good 13.23 as well, easing up before the line. Damion Thomas ran 13.39 finishing 3rd in another semifinal but did not make the final.
Day 5 – Evening
Elaine Thompson-Herah is immortal!
Elaine Thompson-Herah etched her name in the record books when she won the 200m and became the first woman to defend the sprint double at the Olympics. She won in a national record 21.53.
Christine Mboma of Namibia was second in 21.81 with American Gabby Thomas 3rd in 21.87. Fourth was Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 21.94. This was Jamaica’s fifth medal at these games.
Thompson-Herah, who had won the 100m four days ago, looked a cut above the great opposition as she led from start to finish. With this win, she became Jamaica’s best individual female performer in Olympic history with four gold medals. Only Usain Bolt has won more individual gold medals as a Jamaican with eight.
Thompson also became only the third woman to defend the 200m title after Barbel Wockel of East Germany in 1980 and Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell in 2008.
National champion Natoya Goule tried to stay with the pace of eventual winner Athing Mu in the 800m final. She was 2nd coming off the final turn but she faded in the last 75 metres and finished 8th in 1:58.26.
In the 110m hurdles heats, National Champion Ronald Levy was smooth throughout, easily winning his heat in 13.17. Youngster Damion Thomas hit a couple of barriers but he managed to compose himself and qualified in 3rd position in his heat with 13.54, while Hansle Parchment proved his well-being with a good run, posting 13.23 for third behind American world champion Grant Holloway who ran fastest at 13.02.
Day 5 – Morning
The majority of Jamaica’s athletes performed well on the morning of day five.
All three ladies in the 400m advanced to the semifinals.
Roneisha McGregor was second in her heat with 51.14 behind the great Allyson Felix of the United States. Candice McLeod ran easily to post 51.09 to win her heat while Stephenie Ann McPherson also won her heat with 50.89 to advance.
In the 200m heats for men, it took 20.31 by Rasheed Dwyer to win his heat. His compatriot Julian Forte never looked comfortable and finished 7th in another heat with 20.65.
Jumper Carey McLeod, who got to Japan only last week, spanned 16.01m which did not advance him to the final of the triple jump.
Day 4 – Evening
Discus thrower Shadae Lawrence was unable to place on the medal stand but she put on a good performance in the final under blustering conditions. She posted a good 62.12m with her second effort and then the skies opened. The circle was dangerous and there was a suspension for nearly an hour. When they resumed she was unable to improve and finished 7th.
In the women’s 200m semifinals, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was out first and ran a sensible and controlled race. She ran a good turn, established a 5m lead coming into the straight and held her form to the end, posting 22.13 for the win.
Olympic 100m champion Elaine Thompson-Herah used the opportunity to test herself. She ran a hard turn, came into the straight with a good lead, which she extended and then shut it down with about 30 meters to go. The clock read 21.66, the fourth-fastest performance of all time. This has set tongues wagging as we look forward to the final.
Christopher Taylor demonstrated heart and immense strength in the 400m semifinals as he qualified for his first senior international final. He pushed himself, drove hard in the final 100m to place 2nd and into the important medal round with 44.92, behind American Michael Cherry who won in 44.44.
In semifinal three, Demish Gaye ran the fastest he has done this season, 45.09. Unfortunately, he was fourth and did not make the final.
In the 400m hurdles semifinals for women, Janieve Russell qualified for the final with a good race, finishing strongly to get the second spot with 54.10 behind Delilah Mohammad who won with 53.30.
Day 4 – Morning
MEGAN TAPPER GETS BRONZE!
The 100m hurdles race was the big final for Jamaica on Monday morning Tokyo time. National champion Megan Tapper ran well from the outside lane to give Jamaica its fourth medal, bronze in 12 55. Britany Anderson finished 8th with 13.24 after clipping a couple of hurdles.
The Gold was won by Jasmine Camacho–Quinn of Puerto Rico in 12.37 with Kendra Harrison of the USA in second in 12.52.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce looked good in winning her heat of the women’s 200m in a time of 22.32. Compatriot Elaine Thompson Herah was also very easy as she jogged through the line in a well-measured 3rd with 22.86.
The third Jamaican, Shericka Jackson did not qualify as she jogged through to finish 4th in her heat in 23.26.
The obviously injured Tajay Gayle bravely appeared for the final of the long jump. He was bothered by run-up problems and did not make the final eight. His best jump was 7.69m.
Day 3 – Morning
First up were Chanice Porter and Tissanna Hickling in the women’s long jump. It didn’t go very well for both as they were eliminated with best efforts of 6.22m and 6.19m respectively to take 24th and 25th positions.
The male quarter milers took to the track afterwards. Of the three, only Christopher Taylor qualified for the semifinals automatically from his heat, finishing 3rd with 45.20. Demish Gaye qualified on time with 45.49 while Nathon Allen finished 4th in 46.12 and did not advance.
Day 2 – Evening
Jamaica sweep 100m!
Elaine Thompson-Herah crowned herself with glory and put herself among the super-elite when she defended the 100m title at the Tokyo Olympics in 10.61.
In so doing, she has become the fastest woman alive and only the third woman in history to win two Olympic 100m titles after American Wyomia Tyus and Fraser-Pryce.
In the second spot was the great Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in 10.74 and in third, was Shericka Jackson in 10.76.
Jamaica did not start well in the heats of the 100m men as national champion Tyquendo Tracey did not show up for his heat. It was later found out that he suffered an injury in training earlier this week.
Here is his Instagram post:
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On the other hand, youngster Oblique Seville ran within himself to qualify for the semifinal with a personal best of 10.04. He can go faster. Former world champion Yohan Blake posted 10.06 for second in his heat.
Natoya Goule led from start to finish in semifinal 1 to advance to the final of the 800m with a time of 1:59.57.
Another unpleasant surprise was the long jump World Champion, Tajay Gayle. He obviously carried an injury into the event; no jumped his first opportunity and then could not execute the landing in the second because of pain. Even in obvious pain, and his left knee strapped, he managed to jump 8.14m in the third round which got him to the final. He was brave but will he perform in the final? Carey McLeod could only manage 7.75m and failed to advance.
The quartet of Sean Bailey, Stacy Ann Williams, Tovea Jenkins and Karayme Bartley finished seventh in the mixed 4x400m relay final in a time of 3:14.95.
Day 2 – Morning
The women’s intermediate hurdlers took to the track first. Janieve Russell finished 2nd in 54.81 and advanced to the semi-finals. Leah Nugent finished 3rd in her heat, however, unfortunately, she was disqualified for a lane violation. Ronda Whyte was also disqualified for false starting.
Discus thrower Shadae Lawrence did enough to place 3rd in her Group and 11th overall with 62.27m and hence advanced to the final.
In the heats of the women’s sprint hurdles, Yanique Thompson ran well for second with 12.74 in heat 3. Brittany Anderson looked good as she won her heat in 12.67 while national champion Megan Tapper was the fastest Jamaican qualifier with a personal best of 12.53 for second behind the fastest qualifier Jasmine Camacho-Quinn who ran 12.41.
Day 1 – Morning
Many Jamaican athletes warmed up for the medal rounds of their events with outstanding performances in the first session of track and field on Friday (Thursday night Jamaica time). Natoya Goule was the first on track in the heats of the 800m. The in-form athlete led all the way, pulling away, in the end, to win in 1:59.83.
At the same time, Travis Smikle was not so fortunate as he could only post 59.04m for thirteenth, in Group A in the discus and was eliminated. In Group B, compatriot Fedrick Dacres, who has been bothered by injuries this season, was also eliminated after throwing 62.92m. Jamaica will be represented in the final by Chad Wright who threw just one centimetre further with 62.93m.
The intermediate hurdlers then took centre stage and performed with panache.
First up was Kemar Mowatt who finished 4th in 49.96 to qualify.
National champion Jaheel Hyde, sporting a strapped right knee, then ran well to win his heat in 48.54.
Shawn Rowe would not be outdone as he ran strongly and finished 3rd to advance in his heat in 49.18.
The star-studded trio of women in the 100m were up next. Defending champion Elaine Thompson-Herah was a smooth as silk as she posted 10.82 to easily win heat two.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was as easy as Sunday morning, posting 10.84 to win her heat.
The final heat was no different as Shericka Jackson strode through in 11.06.
Marie Jose Talou of the Ivory Coast was the fastest qualifier with a fantastic 10.78. The semifinals and final of the 100m for women take place on Saturday morning, Jamaica time.
Day 1 – Evening
14 of 18 advanced to the next round.
The second session of athletics on day one was bittersweet. Veteran triple jumper Kimberly Williams spanned 14.30m to qualify for the final in 9th position while Shaneika Ricketts qualified 6th overall with 14.43m.
The throwers continue to struggle. National champion Daniel Thomas-Dodd was not in top form and only posted 18.37m, well below her season’s best of 19.20m. She was unfortunately eliminated.
In the heats of the mixed relay, the quartet of Sean Bailey, Junelle Bloomfield, StacyAnn Williams and Karayme Bartley, in that order, were good enough for 3rd in their heat in a national record 3:11.76, the third-fastest time overall. Significantly, favourites, the Unites States quartet were disqualified for exchanging outside the zone. The best time was posted by Poland at 3:10.44.