Keyshawn Strachan advanced to his maiden NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships after throwing 74.63m at the NCAA East Regional on Wednesday.
Bahamian Auburn University Tigers sophomore Keyshawn Strachan produced a best throw of 74.63m in the men’s javelin competition of the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round competition at the University of Kentucky Track & Field Complex in Lexington, Kentucky, on Wednesday.
With the throw, the CARIFTA Under-20 record holder advanced to the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the first time.
The 20-year-old finished third in the Wednesday’s competition, with all three of his throws (70.54m, 71.37m, 74.63m) surpassing 70m.
His personal best and Bahamian national record 84.27m was done at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in 2023 at the Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Wanya McCoy, a junior for the University of Florida Gators, moved on to the quarterfinals of the men’s 100 and 200m, winning his heats in 10.29 seconds and 20.34 seconds respectively.
He finished tied with the sixth fastest time going into the quarters in both events, and will have to finish among the top 12 to move on to the NCAA Championships.
McCoy was a runner-up in both the 100m and 200m at the SEC Outdoor Championships in Gainesville earlier this month.
Also advancing in the 100m were Caymanian two-time Carifta U-20 gold medallist Davonte Howell of Tennessee (10.35), Jamaica’s Jehlani Gordon of Georgia (10.41) and T&T’s Omari Lewis on Liberty (10.39).
Jamaican Florida State Seminoles sophomore Jordan Turner also advanced to the NCAA Championships after jumping 7.74m to finish fourth in the men’s long jump.
American Championship Conference (ACC) outdoor shot-put champion Courtney Lawrence of Clemson also booked his spot at the NCAA Championships with a throw of 19.61m to finish sixth.
Jamaican LSU sophomore, Jahiem Stern, ran 13.38 to lead all qualifiers to the quarterfinals in the men’s sprint hurdles set for Friday.
Clemson senior and ACC Outdoor champion Tarees Rhoden made it through to the quarterfinals in the men’s 800m with 1:47.89 to win his preliminary.
Jamaica’s Jevaughn Powell of Florida (45.85), D’Andre Anderson of Clemson (45.87), Reheem Hayles of Florida (45.99) made it through to the quarters in the men’s 400m.
The men’s 400m hurdles saw Bajan Tennessee senior Rasheeme Griffith (50.40) and Jamaican South Florida sophomore Devontie Archer (51.13) make progress.
The 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships is set for June 5-8 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone inducted into University of Kentucky Hall of Fame
Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the 2021 Olympic gold medalist and 2024 bronze medalist in the 100-metre hurdles, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning world record holder in the 400-metre hurdles and four-time Olympic gold medalist, were honored as part of the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024 on Friday night.
The induction ceremony, held at the Central Bank Center, celebrated the achievements of these two track and field stars along with fellow inductees John Cropp (administrator/coach), Henrik Larsen (rifle), Jodie Meeks (men's basketball), and Corey Peters (football).
Camacho-Quinn, who represented the University of Kentucky from 2016 to 2018, took to Instagram to reflect on her journey to this prestigious honour, sharing her gratitude and reflecting on her struggles. “I think I’m still lost for words," she wrote. "I started at the University of Kentucky a semester late. Spring of 2015 and was forced to redshirt. I wasn’t the most well-behaved student in high school and when I finally got my stuff together, it was too late. This caused me to stay home fall semester of 2014 and take online classes. But it was a part of my journey. This is MY story."
She went on to thank those who supported her through her college years, a time she admits was not always easy. "College wasn’t the easiest either. But everyone who truly believed in me and stuck by my side, Thank you.❤️ Thank you Mommy & Daddy. Thank you to my brothers James, Robert & Miguel. Thank you Sarah. Thank you Coach Flo. Thank you Barb & Passion. & Thank you God," she shared.
Though her college career spanned only three years, Camacho-Quinn's time at Kentucky was highly impactful. She won three NCAA titles—twice in the 100-metre hurdles (2016, 2018) and once in the 4x100m relay (2017). A six-time SEC champion, she also set four school records and remains one of the most accomplished athletes in Kentucky's track and field history.
"The journey wasn’t the easiest, but it was well worth it. Although I only got to represent for three years at Kentucky, those three years taught me so much about myself & life. Six years later after graduating, I am now a part of THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY HALL OF FAME!" she concluded.
McLaughlin-Levrone, who spent just one year at Kentucky in 2018 before turning professional, has become one of the most decorated athletes in the world. McLaughlin-Levrone set the collegiate record in the 400m hurdles during her time at UK, running 52.75 seconds to win the SEC Championship, a mark that still stands today. Her brief collegiate career also saw her win NCAA and SEC titles and break the world junior indoor 400m record.
Since leaving Kentucky, McLaughlin-Levrone has taken the track and field world by storm, winning four Olympic gold medals—two each in Tokyo and Paris—and setting the world record in the 400m hurdles in both Olympics. She most recently shattered her own record at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a stunning time of 50.37 seconds. In addition to her individual accolades, McLaughlin-Levrone anchored the U.S. women’s 4x400m relay team to gold in Paris, setting an American record in the process.
Ackeem Blake targeted Diamond League glory to redeem Olympic setback: "I could hear my coach guiding me through every phase..."
After a disappointing exit in the semi-finals of the 100m at the Paris Olympics in August, Jamaica's Ackeem Blake made it his mission to win the Diamond League title. The 22-year-old sprinter, who had entered the Olympics with high hopes, was left dejected after finishing fifth in his semi-final heat with a time of 10.06 seconds. However, Blake was determined not to let that setback define his season.
With the guidance of his coach, Michael Frater, Blake refocused his efforts on the Diamond League Final in Brussels. "After a devastating exit in the semi-finals at the Paris Olympics, my team and I decided that we must put all our resources into making and taking the Diamond League Final," Blake revealed on Instagram after his victory.
The Jamaican sprinter knew that he needed to prove himself on the international stage, and the Diamond League presented the perfect opportunity to do so.
Blake's resolve to rebound from his Olympic disappointment was fueled by the belief that he had more to offer. Earlier in the year, he had shown glimpses of his potential by winning a bronze medal in the 60m dash at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow. With a personal best of 9.89 seconds, Blake knew he had the speed to compete with the world's best. What he needed was the mental fortitude to bounce back after a major setback.
Frater played a crucial role in this mental and physical preparation. Blake credited his coach for guiding him through every phase of his comeback. “In this moment, I was deeply focused,” Blake said. “I could hear my coach guiding me through every phase of the race.” The meticulous planning and intense focus that went into preparing for the Diamond League paid off as Blake stormed to victory in a time of 9.93 seconds, defeating a high-calibre field that included American sprinters Christian Coleman and Fred Kerley.
Blake's triumph in the Diamond League was not just about the win itself but about redemption and resilience. It was a testament to his determination to overcome adversity and a reminder that setbacks can serve as stepping stones to success.
T&T’s Richards receives additional financial support from Ministry of Sport and Community Development
Olympic 400m finalist Jereem Richards on Wednesday has been rewarded with additional financial support from Trinidad & Tobago’s Ministry of Sport and Community Development.
The 30-year-old, who finished fourth in the 400m final in Paris in a national record 43.78, collected a cheque for $187,500 from acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Community Development, David Roberts, at its head office in Port of Spain.
“Jereem’s performance at the recent Paris 2024 Olympics games and his subsequent bronze medal at the Diamond League, showed true grit and a determination to succeed,” T&T’s Minister of Sport, Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, told Trinidad Express.
“We at the Ministry are committed to ensuring that athletes are given all that they need to reach their highest levels of performance,” she added.
The funding was awarded under the Elite Athlete Assistance Programme (EAAP) designed to help athletes like Richards to cover costs including training, international competition and travel fees as well as other essential expenses.
A Ministry release on September 11 stated that, “similar to other athletes, the Ministry has continuously supported Richards’ athletic development which allowed him to successfully compete on the international stage. In 2019, Jereem Richards was awarded $125,000 and $187,500 in 2021. In 2022, he received $250,000 and in 2023 he was awarded a further $250,000.”
Richards is also a World Indoor 400m champion from 2022, a two-time Commonwealth Games 200m champion from 2018 and 2022 and a World Championship 200m bronze medallist from 2017.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
