Several of the teams down to participate in the Americas Netball World Cup Qualifier which begins on Sunday at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston, have already arrived ready to do battle for spots in the Netball World Cup.
Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados and St. Vincent & the Grenadines are expected on Thursday just over 72 hours before vying for a chance to join Jamaica at the championship to be held in South Africa next year.
Fierce competition is expected as only two other teams from the USA, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Cayman Islands and Grenada can qualify.
"Excitement is looming and things are reaching fever pitch. I know there is a buzz in the region because only two teams will go forward to play in Cape Town in July next year,” said Marva Bernard, President of Netball Americas.
“I am looking forward to another thrilling world class event taking place in Jamaica.
"Not since 2003 have we had a multi-country netball tournament in the Americas Region so I am hoping the patrons will come out. I know there will be good netball. It will be keenly contested and I can't wait for the first whistle to blow on day one of the competition so let's rock and roll and bacchanal and catch the vibes and feel the vibes and have our Dancehall and Reggae because it's going to be a fun time in this country."
With the stakes so high, several of the teams have bolstered their respective coaching staffs as they seek to get a leg up on World Cup regulars Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados.
St. Lucia brought in former national coach Minneth Reynolds while Antigua & Barbuda has hired English coach Lisa Smith and assistant coach Lauren Smith to help improve their prospects of success.
Meanwhile, the Cayman Islands has English coach Lyneth Monteith.
The first match on the fixtures will get underway at 6:00 pm on October 16 at the NISC. The seven-day qualifier will end on October 22 and according to Dwayne Gutzmer, chair of the local organizing committee, "It promises to be a world class event with lots of prizes, lots of giveaways, lots of fan engagement.”
Briana Williams adapts to new training regimen with coach John Smith in pursuit of Olympic dream
Jamaica's Olympic relay gold medalist, Briana Williams, is adjusting to a new training program under the guidance of veteran coach John Smith in California while remaining steadfast in her goal of securing a spot on Jamaica's team for the Paris Olympic Games this summer.
Williams encountered a challenging season in 2023, contending with injuries after transitioning from Coach Ato Boldon in Miramar, Florida to Titans International in Jamaica, where she was coached by Gregory Little and Michael Frater. Following the split of her coaches late in 2023, Williams continued under Coach Frater until making the decision to join Coach John Smith's program in March this year.
Smith, who currently coaches Marie Jose Ta Lou Smith, the fastest woman from Africa and a two-time World Championship silver medalist, brings a wealth of expertise to Williams' training regimen. Ta Lou Smith provided a glimpse of what Williams could become by winning the 100m in 10.91 at the Jamaica Athletics Invitational, where Williams achieved a season's best of 11.39, finishing seventh.
The time reflected a significant improvement on her 11.54 season opener at the Occidental Invitational in Los Angeles just over a week ago.
Reflecting on her transition to Coach Smith's program, Williams emphasized her commitment to the process and the progress she's making.
"Training, I am taking it day by day. I’m learning new things; it’s a new program so I’m getting adjusted every day, loving the progress," Williams shared post-race. "I’m just taking my time, we have six weeks to go to trials so I want to get everything in, start running every week, and just getting race ready, taking it one day at a time to prepare and make the team."
Williams also highlighted the positive impact of training alongside Marie Jose Ta Lou Smith and the supportive group dynamics.
"It’s the best. I have a great group, great training, great coach. Marie, I learn so much from her and I really appreciate her as a teammate and all the rest of my teammates, and I really do adore the group," Williams commented on her training environment.
Regarding the transition to Coach John Smith, who was once the coach of her former mentor Ato Boldon, Williams expressed enthusiasm for the training regimen and the mentorship she receives.
"It’s amazing! The workouts are not too different. John is like the guru of track and field, so it’s really great learning from him and I learn a lot from him; he makes me strong mentally and physically as well," Williams remarked.
Despite the recent race result, Williams remains focused on the journey ahead, acknowledging the challenges of adapting to a new program mid-season.
"It wasn’t my best race, but I was just working on the things that I need to work on. Getting into a new program in the middle of the season is not easy but it’s what’s best for me right now so I am just taking it one race at a time," she concluded.
The 22-year-old Williams is expecting to be racing over 200m next week in Los Angeles.
USA’s Holmes, Great Britain’s Hudson-Smith win 400m races at Jamaica Athletics Invitational
American Alexis Holmes and great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith emerged as the winners of the women’s and men’s 400m races at the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.
Holmes, a member of the USA’s gold medal-winning mixed relay team at the World Championships in Budapest last year and the World Relays this year in Nassau, ran 50.31 to lead an American 1-2-3 with Brittany Brown running 51.21 in second and Naasha Robinson running 51.81 in third.
“I had a lot of fun. The energy was great,” Holmes said after the race.
“I was expecting a smooth race and just trying to get the win. I just try to stay relaxed and poised because I know I have a strong finish,” she added.
The men’s race saw World Championship silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith produce 44.69 to take the win ahead of American Matthew Boling (44.98) and Jamaica’s Zandrion Barnes (45.41).
“I’m a lot more healthier this year. I’ve got the best team in the world. My coach Gary Evans is a man with a plan and this year it’s all about being healthy when it matters,” he said after the race.
“It was a good executed race. We just wanted to come home strong and be composed. I’ve got Oslo, Europeans, Monaco and London so I’ve got a lot more races and training,” he added.
The Brit also gave props to World Champion Antonio Watson who ran 45.61 for fifth.
“Listen, he’s the reigning World Champion so I’ve got to give him respect. He came out here in front of his people and raced. He delivered when it mattered,” he said.
Clayton runs world leading 53.72 to win 400m hurdles at Jamaica Athletics Invitational; James-King upsets McMaster with personal best 48.39 to win men’s event
Two-time World Championship bronze medallist Rushell Clayton and Malik James-King emerged victorious in the women’s and men’s 400m hurdles events, respectively, at the inaugural Jamaica Athletics Invitational at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday.
Clayton looked in excellent early season form, running 53.72, a world leading time and her fastest season opener, to take the win ahead of American Anna Cockrell (53.76) and Jamaica’s Shian Salmon (54.57).
Clayton also tried out a new running pattern with 14 steps between hurdles.
“It felt amazing. I tried my best and I know my coach will be happy with that so I look forward to my next race which is next Sunday,” she said after the race.
“These ladies are who I compete against all the time. It’s an amazing feeling to always line up and compete against the best in the world,” Clayton added.
The men’s race saw Malik James-King spring an upset with a personal best 48.39 to win ahead of World Championship silver medallist Kyron McMaster (49.00) and Jaheel Hyde (49.48).
“I have a lot more to work on so I’m just going to be going back to the drawing board and listening to my coach,” James-King said after the race.
“I was surprised with the time, honestly. I expected 48 but I didn’t know an exact time. 48.3 is a really good time,” he added.
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