Can Jamaica's growing stock of female sprint hurdlers rise to global dominance?

By Kevion Minzie January 29, 2023

For more than a decade now, Jamaica’s women have bossed the 100m.  Veronica Campbell-Brown won Jamaica’s first global 100m gold medal in Osaka in 2007 and since then Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah have basically made the 100m their own with the former winning five world titles and two Olympic titles while Thompson won back to back 100m titles in Brazil in 2016 and 2021 in Tokyo, Japan where she established a new Olympic record of 10.61.

However, with their dominance of the blue-ribbon sprint at its zenith, the women from the land of wood and water seem poised to begin dominating yet another event, the 100m hurdles. Since the 1990s, Jamaica has done reasonably well at the sprint hurdles.

Michelle Freeman was the first Jamaican woman to reach a global final and eventually won won global medals in 1993 and 1997. Dionne Rose and Freeman were Jamaica's first ever Olympic finalists, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively in 1996.

The following year Freeman and Gillian Russell, a 1995 World Championships finalist, went 1-2 at the World Indoor Championships.

Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Delloreen Ennis-London picked up from them with the former winning silver  at the 2003 World Championships, bronze in 2005. Ennis-London won a silver and bronze at the 2005 and 2007 World Championships respectively.

Foster-Hylton made the breakthrough at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin with a fantastic run to give Jamaica gold, Ennis-London won the bronze. Danielle Williams won Jamaica’s second 100m hurdles gold in Beijing 2015 in Beijing and followed with a bronze medal in 2019.

Two years later, Megan Tapper created history for Jamaica when she became the first-ever Jamaican woman to win a medal in the 100m hurdles at an Olympic Games when she captured bronze in Tokyo, Japan.

Then at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Britany Anderson, a finalist in Tokyo in 2021, won silver in the sprint hurdlers.

Tapper and Anderson are among a growing cadre of Jamaican female sprint hurdlers who are among the very best in the world. Among them are Ackera Nugent, the World U20 60m hurdles record holder who opened her 2023 season with a time of 8.00 indoors and Demisha Roswell, who ran a personal best 12.44 and is the fastest Jamaican woman in the world this year over the 60m hurdles with a 7.98 clocking this past weekend.

There is also hope that former national record holder Janeek Brown will make a successful return to the event this season after two years of disruption in her personal life and athletic career. Perhaps, the most talented of the lot is 17-year-old Kerrica Hill, who last year succeeded Nugent as World Under 20 champion and who recently turned professional.

In 2022, Jamaica had four of the 10 fastest women in the world. The USA also had four while Puerto Rico and Nigeria had one each.

 If Jamaica’s women are to reach the pinnacle and find some level of dominance it will require a lot of technical work and consistently fast hurdling to get there but if the 100m women are anything to go by, nothing is beyond their reach.

 

Related items

  • St Vincent's Shafiqua Maloney breaks Texas Relays 800m record St Vincent's Shafiqua Maloney breaks Texas Relays 800m record

    Arkansas alum Shafiqua Maloney clocked a meet record time of 2 minutes, 0.25 seconds during Thursday’s session at the 96th Texas Relays, breaking the record set by Razorback alum Crishauna Williams in 2017.

    In a two-section 800m final, Maloney led the field through a 400m split of 58.44 and covered the second lap in 1:01.81. She bettered the meet record of 2:02.25 by two full seconds in her opening race of the outdoor season.

    Maloney holds the national record for St. Vincent and the Grenadines with a 1:59.94 she set at the end of her 2023 season. This indoor season, she improved her national record to 1:58.69.

    Houston’s Kelly-Ann Beckford was the top collegian in the 800m, placing second in 2:02.88. Razorback Sanu Jallow finished third in 2:03.66, which places her No. 6 on the UA all-time outdoor list. Ainley Erzen (2:10.12) and Analisse Batista (2:10.17) were 14th and 15th.

    In the first section of the 800m, a crew of 400m sprinters and hurdlers training in Fayetteville raced. A close finish had Alexis Holmes (2:06.72) edging out Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight (2:06.88) as they placed sixth and eighth overall. Gianna Woodruff (2:15.13) and Anna Cockrell (2:15.17) also had a close finish.

  • How Jamaica's athletes inspired Puma's cutting-edge Olympic kit that blends performance, style, and sustainability How Jamaica's athletes inspired Puma's cutting-edge Olympic kit that blends performance, style, and sustainability

    It was the final day of the 2024 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships, a momentous occasion for Jamaican athletics. But amidst the roar of the crowd and the thunder of racing feet, there was another spectacle unfolding – the unveiling of Puma's latest kit for Jamaica's athletes destined for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris.

    The cutting-edge kit adorned the bodies of a number of Jamaica's greatest elite athletes. Among them, the fastest woman alive, the two-time defending Olympic sprint double champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, defending 110m hurdles champion Hansle Parchment, 100m hurdles bronze medalist Megan Tapper, Rushell Clayton, Janieve Russell, Asafa Powell, Stacey-Ann Williams and Kemba Nelson among others. Parading around the track, the athletes in their newly-fashioned were cheered on by the appreciate crowd of about 20,000. 

    For José van der Veen, Global Head of Product, Track and Field at Puma, the journey towards crafting these kits was deeply rooted in the essence of Jamaican athleticism. "Jamaica has always been a key federation for us," he remarked, his eyes alight with passion. "We've always used them as our main muse, inspiration not only from a performance level but also from a stylistic level."

    Drawing inspiration from the nation's obsession with speed and agility, Puma set out to create a collection that would not only embody the spirit of Jamaican athletes but also push the boundaries of performance and style. "The performance and the technologies that we've incorporated in these products are state of the art," van der Veen added, pride evident in her voice.

    But it wasn't just about performance – it was about style, about evoking the essence of speed with every stitch and seam. "Our muse is our athletes. They evoke speed on the track, and that's what we wanted our kits to feel like,” Noelani Ramos, Global Lead Designer, Track and Field at Puma emphasized. “We wanted it to kind of complement them while they perform on the track. We wanted our lines to contour their bodies. They so disciplined, they train so hard, we wanted it to really highlight their physique.”

    Working hand-in-hand with athletes like 400m hurdler Rushell Clayton, Puma meticulously crafted each element of the kit, ensuring that it not only looked dynamic but also enhanced performance. "We wanted to evoke the talk of the crowd," Ramos continued. "Something that's dynamic on the track, with high cut lines around the brief area...that moves with the body."

    But performance wasn't the only consideration – sustainability played a crucial role in the design process. "We can't sacrifice the sustainability element of it," van der Veen emphasized. With materials made from regenerated nylon sourced from ocean fishnets and water bottles, Puma ensured that every stride taken in their kits was a step towards a greener future.

    Clayton expressed her joy to have been included in the creative process. "It feels amazing to be part of the process," she exclaimed. "When you put this gear on, it gives you confidence, just to know it fits so well, it sitting in the right parts of your body, it’s not moving where it’s not supposed to move. It’s amazing to know that they put so much work and thought into it.”

     

     

     

  • GKMS/Western Union 'Future Champions' Initiative sparks athletic excellence at Champs GKMS/Western Union 'Future Champions' Initiative sparks athletic excellence at Champs

    The just concluded 2024 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships (Champs) were a stage for triumph and glory but behind every victory on the field, there lay a tale of dedication, support, and the belief in the potential of young athletes.

    At the forefront of this narrative stood the 'Future Champions' initiative, a collaborative effort between GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS) and Western Union (WU), aimed at nurturing talent, providing equal opportunities, and promoting youth development through sports. With a generous donation of JMD$2.5 million spread across 14 schools—one per parish—'Future Champions' set the stage for greatness.

    Among the stars of this initiative was the Sydney Pagon STEM Academy from St. Elizabeth. Their remarkable improvement over the previous year's performance was a testament to the impact of the initiative. With both their male and female teams increasing their points tally, Sydney Pagon STEM Academy was not just a school but a beacon of hope for young athletes. Luke Plummer's historic bronze medal in the Boys Class 3 800m marked a milestone for the school, igniting a flame of inspiration that would burn bright for years to come.

    Not far behind was Herbert Morrison High from St. James, whose athletes displayed sheer determination and skill. Finishing 11th in the competition with 28 points, an improvement over the previous year, Herbert Morrison High showcased their prowess on the field. Santino Distin and Tavaine Stewart's bronze medals in the Boys Class 1 High Jump and Boys Class 2 100m respectively were a testament to their hard work and dedication.

    Bellefield High from Manchester added to the tapestry of success with Rhodonna Prince's bronze medal in the girls Class 2 1500m. Their tally of 18 points spoke volumes about their talent and determination.

    But perhaps the true essence of 'Future Champions' shone through the inspiring story of Rhianna Lewis from Rhodes Hall High. Despite facing adversity, Rhianna's courage to finish the 400m hurdles after a fall embodied the spirit of perseverance and determination that the initiative aimed to foster.

    Grace Burnett, CEO of the GraceKennedy Financial Group and President and CEO of GKMS, beamed with pride as she reflected on the achievements of these young athletes. "The success of our 'Future Champions' at Champs 2024 is a testament to what can be achieved when we invest in our youth," she exclaimed. "These remarkable young athletes have shown that with the right support and opportunities, they can compete at the highest levels and excel."

    The 'Future Champions' initiative not only enhanced the schools' athletic facilities and resources but also instilled a sense of pride and achievement among their students.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.