Texas A&M’s Tyra Gittens wants to wrap up qualification for the Olympic heptathlon as soon as the outdoor season begins, but if she doesn’t, she is confident that there are other ways for her to get to Tokyo.
The 22-year-old Trinidadian multi-event athlete harbours aspirations of competing at the Olympics this summer whether it is in the heptathlon or another discipline and during a season when she has set personal bests this year in the pentathlon (4,612 points), high jump (1.91m) and long jump (6.62m), Gittens believes her indoor form sets her up well to achieve just that.
“I will definitely try to get the Olympic standard for the heptathlon as soon as possible. At our outdoor regionals we do not have a heptathlon because it’s a week before nationals but my plans are to qualify at my first heptathlon,” she said.
As stated earlier, Gittens has had a good indoor season for far notwithstanding a disappointing sixth-place finish at the SEC Regionals just over a week ago, but with an indoor best in the pentathlon as well as the high and long jumps, she feels she is in a good position to achieve the 6400 points she needs to book her spot on Trinidad’s team to Tokyo in July.
“Indoors is normally a good indicator of how your heptathlon is going to go, and so my pentathlon has definitely shown that it is very possible that my first heptathlon will be around the qualifying standard.
I would hope I won’t have to leave it to the last meet, although I have nationals to qualify, I definitely believe I can get to qualification at my first heptathlon, which will probably be in April or March.”
However, Gittens is not hanging her hopes in the heptathlon alone. So, in the unlikely event that she falls short of the Olympic pentathlon standard, she knows other opportunities abound.
“Obviously, my goal is to make it into the Olympics in the heptathlon but because of how this season has been going so far there is a big possibility of making it to the Olympics in the high jump and the long jump, and so that is the new goal that I am going for,” she said.
“I won’t be devastated if I don’t (qualify for the pentathlon) because I see there is a chance for me to do that then I am going to run with it. I am going to train hard for that, it’s very exciting,” she said with the caveat that she would only attempt all three events if the schedule allows for it.
“I am sure other ‘multis’ like Nafee (Harris) and Kathleen Johnson-Thompson has done that before but I have never competed at such a level as the Olympics so I don’t know the schedule, I don’t know if it’s just too much.
“I don’t know if its different (from SECs or Nationals) so I am going trust my coach’s judgement and if I do qualify and the schedule allows me at the Olympics then I will definitely try to compete in all three, if possible.”
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
Improving core, mental strength the main focus for Alfred in preparation for 2025 season
Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred will emphasize improving her core strength in preparation for the 2025 season, with an eye on improving her performances in the 200m.
Despite being the second fastest woman ever in the event indoors with her 22.01 at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2023, with only the legendary Merlene Ottey going faster with 21.87 in 1993, Alfred has often said she’s not a fan of the half lap event.
Alfred also won the 200m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2023 with a wind-aided 21.73.
This year, she won Olympic silver in the event in Paris in August, running 22.08 behind American Gabby Thomas who’s winning time was 21.83.
A month before the Olympics, Alfred set a personal best 21.86 in a winning effort at the London Diamond League meet.
Speaking on the latest episode on Out d Blocks on the SportsMax TV YouTube Channel, Alfred spoke about wanting to get stronger.
“I think I have a lot to work on. I have to get stronger, especially my core. On the track, I think that getting stronger mentally as well as physically is really what I have to work on,”
The 23-year-old also mentioned that her coach, Edrick Floreal, is working to improve how she feels about the 200m.
“I’ve spoken about the 200m for a really long time and how I feel about it. My coach is going to work with me with how I fell about the 200m in getting stronger and being more comfortable in that,” she said.
“It might take some longer races, I don’t know but I think he’s really trying to help me get stronger mentally as I approach the 2025 season, especially as it pertains to the 200m,” Alfred added.
With these performances in mind, one can only imagine the times Alfred will be able to run if she starts to actually enjoy the event.
If that happens in 2025, her personal best is definitely in danger and it would be no surprise to see her leave the Tokyo World Championships in September with a pair of gold medals.
Jamaican Olympian Aleen Bailey and husband Joseph Taylor expecting first child, celebrate with baby shower with family and friends
Jamaican Olympian Aleen Bailey and her husband Joseph Taylor are celebrating an exciting new chapter in their lives as they prepare to welcome their first child. The couple marked the occasion with a heartwarming baby shower on Sunday, attended by close family and friends, including collegiate coach and close friend Soyini Thompson, and former Jamaican thrower Zara Northover, who presided over the couple’s wedding in November 2023.
Bailey, a decorated athlete, has had an illustrious career on the track. A seven-time Carifta Games gold medalist, Bailey rose to global prominence when she won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team. Her relay success continued, with another gold medal at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany. Throughout her career, Bailey represented Jamaica with distinction, earning numerous accolades in the national colours, making her one of the country's most celebrated sprinters.
(Soyini Thompson Facebook)
Aleen and her husband Joseph are all smiles with their dear friend Zara Northover on Sunday.
The baby shower was a joyful gathering filled with love and anticipation for the couple’s impending parenthood. Surrounded by their support system, Bailey and Taylor celebrated the next step in their journey together, a journey that began when they tied the knot under the warm Jamaican sun in a beautiful ceremony at the St Andrew Scots Kirk United Church in Kingston.
Their wedding, officiated by Reverend Nigel Nusey and longtime friend Northover, was a heartfelt celebration of love, faith, and the powerful bond shared by two outstanding athletes. Northover, Bailey’s former roommate during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, expressed her gratitude for being a part of the couple’s journey, reflecting on the significance of God’s blessing in their marriage.
The couple’s reception at the ROK Hotel in downtown Kingston was a further testament to the love they share, surrounded by family, friends, and members of the athletic community that has played such an important role in their lives.
Now, as they prepare to welcome their first child, Bailey and Taylor are entering a new chapter, continuing their journey of love and family. The support from their friends and loved ones was palpable at the baby shower, a day filled with happiness, excitement, and anticipation for the new arrival.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reflects on the sixth anniversary of her statue at Independence Park
Two-time Olympic 100m champion and five-time World 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, has marked the sixth anniversary of the statue erected in her honour at Independence Park in Kingston. The statue, which was unveiled on October 14, 2018, stands as a symbol of her incredible achievements and contributions to athletics.
On Monday, the legendary sprinter took to Facebook to reflect on the momentous occasion, posting, "Growing up, statues represented important people who were no longer alive. October 14, 2018, was a monumental feeling to see yourself larger than life with your very own eyes."
The unveiling of Fraser-Pryce’s statue, which took place six years ago, drew government officials, diplomats, and loyal fans to the National Stadium, despite heavy rain associated with a broad trough across the western Caribbean. The ceremony lasted over two hours, with various speakers praising Fraser-Pryce, the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic 100m gold medallist, for her remarkable career and her inspirational journey.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness unveiled the statue during the special ceremony at Statue Park, where other Jamaican sporting greats are also immortalized.
Back then, Fraser-Pryce, reflecting on her journey, remarked, "Early in my journey, I wasn’t a model athlete. However, once I found out the power I had in my legs and was convinced that hard work is the key to success, I bought a stake into my own vision for my future."
She shared a message of encouragement for those chasing their dreams, emphasizing resilience and perseverance: "We all have our dreams, and sometimes we do not get to pursue them. However, if you are alive, you can still be able to achieve them. A delayed dream doesn’t mean a dream denied."
The 37-year-old sprinter remains one of the most iconic figures in global track and field, and the statue commemorating her legacy stands as a testament to her enduring impact on Jamaican and world athletics.
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